Issue 172 28 August 2019
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Introduction of a Local Planning Panel is seen as a power grab
he NSW G o v e r n m e n t ’s introduction of a Local Planning Panel (LPP) for the Central Coast early next year is seen as a “power grab” by Mayor, Jane Smith. The LPP will remove another layer of decision making from Central Coast Council, meaning that council will only have jurisdiction to decide on developments under the value of $5M. A Central Coast LPP is expected to be in place by early 2020 and will consist of a chair, two independent experts appointed by council from a Minister endorsed pool of independent, qualified people, plus a community representative. When in place, Central Coast Council will decide development applications under $5M and those valued between $5M and $20M will be referred to the LPP for a decision. Developments valued at more than $20m will go to the Joint Regional Planning Panel for a decision. State Significant Developments have their own approval framework, separate to those two planning panels, and are determined by the Department of Planning. Mayor Smith said this “intervention is unnecessary and is the latest in a series of moves by the state government
NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister, Rob Stokes, on the Central Coast with Terrigal MP, Adam Crouch to take planning powers has spoken directly to region’s planning system” away from communities”. him about concerns with and it is expected to speed up the decision “The community could the LPP. “I was hoping the making process. rightly be concerned … “The Central Coast is we have seen the recent voice of our community case of the NSW Planning would be heard and it is growing and the new LPP Department overriding extremely disappointing is needed to ensure that a City of Sydney that the state government major developments are decision to oppose a has moved this way,” she planned and delivered in a strategic way,” he said. tower development at said. Pyrmont … and this NSW Planning Minister Darkinjung Local calls into question the Rob Stokes said the Aboriginal Land Council independence of our Central Coast LPP has also welcomed the planning system,” Mayor followed independent Central Coast LPP. Smith said. reviews showing that With 3,700ha of “Councillors are elected existing panels in NSW landholdings, Darkinjung by the community to were performing very well is the largest nonmake decisions on behalf to deliver better planning government landowner outcomes. of the community. on the coast. “The panel will free-up “We are accountable to Chairman, Matthew them for the decisions we councillors to focus on West, said that under the long-term strategic the Darkinjung Delivery make. they “The imposition of a planning to lead the Framework, Local Planning Panel delivery of the region’s were working with the removes power further goals and priorities,” he NSW government to progress development from members of the said. Liberal MLC for the projects such as community and erodes employment, their capacity to have a Central Coast, Taylor housing, Martin, said the Central education and training voice.” Mayor Smith has been Coast is the latest in a opportunities. “We are very pleased part of Local Government statewide network of NSW delegations to the LPPs and it would bring about the LPP because transparency it will ensure a greater Planning Minister and “greater and accountability to our level of transparency,
accountability and expertise to the region’s planning system,” West said. NSW Labor supports the LPP in principle, but they want certain guarantees from Minister Stokes that the panel will comprise planning experts, community members and council representatives and that local communities have sufficient opportunity to comment on development proposals. Wyong MP, David Harris, said LPPs were a key recommendation by former NSW Deputy Police Commissioner, Nick Kaldas, as a “corruption-proofing tool”. His recommendation was part of a major independent review of governance in the NSW planning system. “NSW Labor understands that LPPs will restrict corruption opportunities so relationships between developers and councillors cannot influence decision making,” Harris said. “Panels need to be properly representative and truly independent to make the best decisions and the planning system needs to be fair for both community members and developers. “Local residents continue to have concerns about planning panels, given the controversial decision to allow office buildings
on Gosford waterfront, so it’s up to the Minister to create guidelines which put the interests of Central Coast residents before developer dollars,” Harris said. However, Greens Central Coast spokesperson, Abigail Boyd, said “having the Minister approve most of the panel members should ring alarm bells for the Central Coast community”. “The rolling disaster of defective apartment blocks shows that the government is mostly interested in lining the pockets of property developers and has little interest in protecting community interests,” she said. “The government does not want community control of planning decisions, they want deals signed in back rooms. “This is the opposite of increased transparency – it is yet another Coalition Government move designed to disempower local councils and the communities they represent.” Source: Media release, Aug 25 Liberal MLC for Central Coast, Taylor Martin, and Terrigal MP, Adam Crouch Interview, Aug 25 Spokesman for Adam Crouch Media release, Aug 25 Wyong MP, David Harris Media release, Aug 26 Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council Media statement, Aug 26 Greens MLC, Abigail Boyd Journalist, Sue Murray
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