OAKESHOTT INDEPENDENT
PLANNING LAWS NEED TO BE REVIEWED CAREFULLY
The worst change that could happen to NSW planning laws would be a rushed change from a Minister who has not given due consideration to all the consequences of another round of planning reform, Independent MP for Port Macquarie, Robert Oakeshott said today.
"The word is travelling around fairly rapidly that Minister Frank Sartor is planning another round of substantial planning law reform. I urge caution in getting it right, rather than rushing ahead due to lobby group pressure, Mr Oakeshott said.
"The gossip is that Minister Sartor is considering establishing a new Development Assessment Commission that would impose Development Application Assessment Panels on councils, and attempt to fast-track building construction through 15 day deemed approval, said Mr Oakeshott.
"With Sydney facing all sorts of planning difficulties in trying to accommodate one million more people within the next twenty years, there is a danger that regional areas such as ours will be exposed to state-wide planning laws that simply aren't relevant to our circumstances, said Mr Oakeshott.
"There is no doubt that reform is needed, but not in the direction of bringing the State Government and the major developer lobby closer together. Rather, greater transparency and accountability in the process is required, and greater faith in community-based processes from all levels of government is what is desperately required, Mr Oakeshott said.
"Instead, all I am hearing at the moment is the potential for less input from community, and more input into political party coffers from the development lobby, due to the fact planning laws are becoming more discretionary at a State Ministerial level. Achieving less-than-optimum planning outcomes for the community is one of the great dangers facing growth areas such as ours, said Mr Oakeshott.
24 August 2007