The State Government needs to look at all aspects of the planning process rather than targeting councils for delays in development approvals, Wingecarribee Shire Mayor Gordon Lewis said this week.
"The whole issue wants to be looked at," he said.
"The State Government needs to look at itself to see where it's getting bogged down."
Cr Lewis was commenting on moves by the State Government to strip councils of their development approval role.
Legislation to be introduced to State Parliament this week would allow Planning Minister Frank Sartor to appoint a planning administrator or planning assessment council to take over development decisions from under-performing councils.
The Minister would also have power to amend, repeal or approve a council development contribution plan.
Mr Sartor said the new laws would be a last resort when councils failed to deal with planning matters efficiently.
Latest figures showed that four of 10 councils took longer than 40 days on average to determine applications, with one council taking an average of 160 days.
But Cr Lewis said development applications were delayed by a number of factors, including addressing objections from the public.
Full story: SHN, Wednesday, March 1, 2006.
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