16 November, 2015
Regional councils’ planning powers undermined by government’s latest reforms
NSW Parliament has given the Planning Minister authority to appoint regional planning bodies that can impose new planning controls on local communities and councils.
Major changes to the state's planning laws have been ushered through parliament largely unnoticed as part of the Greater Sydney Commission Bill 2015.
“The implications of the GSC Billgo well beyond the Sydney region because it authorises the Planning Minister to establish similar commissions anywhere in NSW,” Nature Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski said.
“These changes affect regional communities across the state, but details of how these new commissions will be constituted, who will sit on them, and how communities will be consulted are totally lacking. Local councils deserve a full explanation.
“This latest move discredits the Baird government’s commitment to proper public consultation and better outcomes for the environment and communities.”
The GSC Bill, which passed parliament last week, introduces a new Part 3B to the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 that determines how strategic planning is done in NSW.
“These changes have concentrated power into the hands of the minister and his appointed commissioners, and it is unclear how communities will engaged with these new regional planning bodies,” Ms Smolski said.
“We recognise the benefits of strategic regional planning and support this approach, but it must include community input and decision-maker accountability.
“The O'Farrell government couldn't get its way on planning reform in the last parliament, where the upper house picked apart its Planning Bill.
”Now the Baird government is sneaking through key components of the O’Farrell reforms by inserting clauses into the back of other pieces of legislation. The Coalition promised to return power to the people, but here it is side-stepping the community once again.”
[1] See page 22 of the Bill “Schedule 5 Amendment of Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 No 203”
http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/en/Plans-for-Your-Area/Sydney/A-Plan-for-Growing-Sydney/~/media/D71EB9B0A75040E985B4E2A543E11365.ashx
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