The Local Government and Shires Associations of New South Wales has challenged the State Government to take its new pro developer laws to NSW residents. Local Government Association President and North Sydney Mayor, Councillor Genia McCaffery, said the scope of the State Government changes to local planning laws tabled on 15 May warranted an urgent parliamentary inquiry.
“Many people don’t understand the laws and we don’t think the government does either,” she said. “These are the biggest changes to local planning laws in almost 30 years and they need more scrutiny.
“Due to the complex and wide reaching nature of the laws, the government has a duty to ensure there is proper examination of the impacts on local communities. The statewide planning codes are the clearest demonstration yet of the Government’s pro developer laws, taking away the rights of local communities to have their say about development in their neighbourhoods.”
Shires Association President and Cowra Mayor, Councillor Bruce Miller, said NSW councils would assist the State Government in its inquiry by offering local town halls across the State as venues for public hearings.
“We have seen a huge wave of concern in communities across the State, with thousands of residents calling and emailing their local MPs,” he said. “Dozens of local councils have also passed motions calling for a parliamentary inquiry over the past two weeks. NSW councils are prepared to help the Government out in any way we can to make sure local communities get the opportunity to have their say about these new pro developer laws, so we get these changes right.”
Over 320 country Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Councillors have unanimously joined the call for an Upper House inquiry into the State Government’s planning laws.
The laws passed through the Lower House on 4 June and were sent to the Upper House later that day.
“We are now in the hands of the Upper House members to fulfil their responsibility to NSW communities and support an inquiry,” Councillor Miller said. “The Government has arrogantly ignored the concerns of residents, industry, government, environmental groups and business. Private companies and developers will be the big winners if these laws are implemented in their current format.”
The motion calling for an inquiry followed an address by the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, and response from Councillor Miller at the Shires Association annual conference in Sydney. It also follows calls for an inquiry from the Greens and a broad coalition of groups including the National Trust, the Total Environment Centre, the Environmental Defender’s Office, Local Government Managers Australia, the Development and Environmental Professionals Association and the Nature Conservation Council.
