Sartor 'reform' Bill passes Legislative Assembly
Posted by reformwcc on June 4, 2008
Red-eye rule: planning law ‘rammed through’
Jano Gibson and Brian Robins
SMH website June 4, 2008 – 12:08PM
“The Planning Minister, Frank Sartor, and one of the main opponents of the controversial proposed changes to planning laws have traded insults after the reform bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly in the early hours today.
The bill went through at 2am after a long debate and amid criticism Labor forced the changes through while the public’s attention was focused on the state budget.”
…..
“Opposition planning spokesman Brad Hazzard said it was the biggest bill the Government had introduced in the past few months “and they’ve rammed it through under the shadow of budget day”.
Mr Hazzard said the Opposition would be calling for an upper house inquiry once it had passed the Legislative Assembly.
…
Meanwhile, opposition to the planning reforms is gathering pace, with a survey of more than 8000 ratepayers showing overwhelming disapproval of the proposed changes.
A plebiscite of Baulkham Hills Shire ratepayers found that 84 per cent opposed the proposed changes, that would give government-appointed panels control of development applications, overriding councils on the matter.
The plebiscite also found that 83 per cent opposed the appointment of independent certifiers to evaluate the work done on developments and 89 per cent were opposed to proposed changes that would force councils to change the way developer contributions to council are administered.
The plebiscite was sent out to 53,841 ratepayers with 8600 ratepayers responding.
“The results indicate that our ratepayers are concerned about losing their current community role in participating in the future development of the Shire,” Baulkham Hills Shire Mayor Sonya Phillips said.
“Nearly nine out of 10 respondents do not want the State Government to be the primary determining body in local development.” “
Full story
PLUS
Letter from yesterday’s SMH.
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It is unlikely that many people outside the northern beaches are aware of the recent planning controversy about development in Dee Why. Being unaware, however, does not mean they will be unaffected.
At a recent council meeting the Warringah administrator, Dick Persson, argued that nothing could save Dee Why from massive development. He has approved a development consisting of two towers of 17 storeys on one site and several of 10 on an adjoining site, against the clearly expressed views of the community.
The relevance of this goes far beyond heavy traffic and ugly, suburban strip development in Dee Why. Administrators are also in place in Wollongong and Port Macquarie, where Persson has also been appointed.
Corrupt and incompetent councils have long been a fact of life in NSW, but even at their worst they can be held accountable at an election. The appointment of administrators effectively removes any significant input from local people on planning matters.
Your area could be next.
Laurie McGinness North Curl Curl
