Change of plan for the region
THE NSW Greens have issued a dire warning to Southern Highland residents over the State Government's proposal for a new planning system.
Greens senator, David Shoebridge, said the New Planning System for NSW White Paper, currently on public exhibition, would make the state "a developer's paradise".
He said the changes reduced the power of communities and elected councillors while centralising planning powers in the Minister and unelected regional boards.
However, the government said the new planning system would give communities more opportunities to have input into major planning decisions, not less.
The paper was released in April and residents have just three more days to have their say on what the Nature Conservation Council of NSW called "the most significant change to the state's planning and environmental laws in a generation".
Southern Highland Greens' Maree Byrne said if the proposed changes were adopted, the community would not get a say in many planning decisions because they would be made beforehand.
"The Liberal Party promised to get rid of Part 3A, but now what they're proposing is worse," she said. "If it goes ahead, the Wingecarribee 2031 Plan will have no teeth."
The 2031 Plan was developed by the council, in conjunction with the community, to set out the future character of the shire and identify development opportunities.
Under the changed system, a new Local Plan would be created, working alongside the 2031 Plan. It sets the legal framework for how land can be used and developed in the shire.
The Local Plan will be developed by the council with community participation from individuals, organisations, businesses, adjoining councils and relevant service and infrastructure providers.
Continued Page 11
One major change to be implemented in the Local Plan involves abolishing the different degrees of residential density such as low, medium and high and creating a single "residential" zone.
The government said these "open zones" would have fewer prohibitions, allowing for greater flexibility and would "reduce costs, delays and uncertainty for businesses and the community".
However, Mr Shoebridge said it left the door open to potentially unwanted development such as high-rises while putting economic development ahead of community and environmental concerns.
Greens councillor Jim Clark said it was a disturbing vision of the future for anyone who cared about the environment.
"The Local community is best placed to decide on planning decisions, whether by direct input or electing council members," he said. "Under the new system, bureaucrats will make all the higher level decisions."
Another proposed change included having up to 80 per cent of development approved with 10-25 days without any ongoing community input - all community input would be done in the development of the Local Plan.
This would mean developments such as the Bowral Kmart proposal would likely be approved swiftly, assuming it met all legal and planning requirements, without being held up by council politics.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward said the new system would return certainty to the community.
"We inherited a broken planning system created by the Labor government making side-deals with The Greens," he said.
"What they ended up with was a mish-mash of regulations that hasn't led to a better planning system.
"We need a clear, upfront system where the community and the council can be involved.
"And we need to ensure there is certainty in the planning process, so if people buy a block of land, they can be certain of what they can and can't do with it, without political decisions being made.
"Balance needs to be achieved between the extremists on both sides, whether they be pro-environment or pro-development.
A Department of Planning spokesperson said the new system would also support "continued rigorous assessment of mining issues", including environmental protection.
Details on the White Paper and making a submission can be found at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/a-new-planning-system-for-nsw. Submissions close on June 28.
Planning Minister Brad Hazzard. Photo Getty Images
Greens senator David Shoebridge. Photo Getty Images