The Mayor's Column
So anyone opposing Minister Sartor’s new planing laws is “dumb” according to remarks he made at last week’s Shires Association of NSW Conference!
This shows the dismissive and arrogant attitude of this Minister to the huge outcry from residents across the State and the Councils who represent them. Urban and rural areas, represented by the NSW Local Government Association and the Shires Association of NSW, have been strong critics and promoted “Keep it Local “ campaigns which have been strongly supported by the community.
Despite significant public concern about a number of aspects of the planning changes, the Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly at 2am on Wednesday 4 June. The proposed changes will be the biggest overhaul of the planning system in 30 years.
Not all the reforms have been criticised, but some are of great concern. Mr. Sartor always quotes the “mums and dads” as being beneficiaries of the changes. These are the very people who will be left out of the development process, as will their elected representatives on Council. The “mums and dads” will not be happy when a building next door or across the road takes their privacy, sunlight, views and amenity and they have no real right of appeal. The developers will be happy.
Private Certifiers will be given a much more extensive role in overseeing development applications. Every council has a dossier of complaints about some of them and the lack of accountability in the profession.
Funding for Libraries, Childcare and Environmental programmes will be cut.
The new NSW Advisory Panel will have no real power to stop big developments.
The Bill will be debated in the Upper House on 17 June. Eight members have called for an Enquiry. Three have not committed. The smart thing to do is support an Upper House Enquiry and contact The Shooters Party representatives Robert Brown and Roy Smith and Christian Democrat Fred Nile.
More information: Keep It Local
Cr Denise Wilton, Mayor of Mosman
