Fears overhaul of planning laws will be forced
through
Date
February 12, 2014
Sean Nicholls, Sydney Morning Herald State Political Editor
Considering all options: NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard. Photo: Dean Osland
Opponents of a proposed overhaul of the state's planning laws fear the NSW government is preparing to
bypass Parliament and use special powers to implement the controversial reforms.
Last November, the government refused to allow a vote on significant amendments to its planning bill
demanded by the upper house. Labor, the Greens and the Shooters and Fishers Party combined to seek
removal of controversial rules that would force councils to approve developments in high-growth areas,
which meet agreed requirements, within 25 days and with no community appeal rights. They also sought to
quash a policy that made the economic benefit of large mining projects the main consideration in the
approval process.
At the time, Planning Minister Brad Hazzard announced the government would take three months to
consider the changes. But according to the Newcastle Herald on Monday, Premier Barry O'Farrell told a
media conference in Maitland that Mr Hazzard would ''get on and seek to deliver those changes using the
existing powers that Labor gave the planning ministers''.
Chief executive of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Pepe Clarke, said Mr O'Farrell's comments
signalled the government was seeking to circumvent Parliament to force through the new planning laws.
''The proposed laws were unfair and unbalanced, placing the interests of developers and the mining industry
before local communities and the environment,'' he said. ''The community will vigorously oppose attempts
by government to sidestep Parliament and impose damaging changes to the planning system through nonlegislative means.''
NSW executive director of the Property Council of Australia, Glenn Byres, said the development lobby's
''firm view'' was that Parliament should pass the bill without the amendments which ''negated the benefits of
the reform''.
''The state's prosperity and economic prospects should not be held to ransom by endless legislative shadow
boxing,'' he said. ''We would still rather see that legislation proceed. But critics of the planning reform can't
have it both ways. They can't argue against the new legislation then also complain about the prospects of the
current system being better leveraged.''
Chief executive of the NSW Minerals Council, Stephen Galilee, said an amended bill would lead to a
planning regime ''worse than the current flawed system, and if implemented would cause significant
economic damage to NSW''.
''We understand the NSW government still hopes to improve the planning system through legislation and we
will work with the government and others in the Parliament to seek passage of a bill that delivers for the
NSW economy,'' he said.
Mr Hazzard said the government ''is considering all options on the best means to implement the reforms that
would be in the interest of the community''.
www.smh.com.au/nsw/fears-overhaul-of-planning-laws-will-be-forced-through-20140211-32fyq.html#ixzz2t9wrcKVQ
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