The Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW
today released their seventh policy position paper: http://www.lgsa.org.au/resources/documents/2007_state_election_planning_policy_platform_010207.pdf).
The Associations are calling for:
·
Repeal of legislation which allows the Minister for Planning to appoint
planning administrators or panels to exercise the planning functions of
councils;
·
A partnership agreement between State and Local Government with formal
protocols which would detail the precise roles and responsibilities of Local
and State Government in the implementation
of metropolitan and regional planning
strategies;
·
Resolution of confusing dual approval provisions now required in
non-urban areas where landholders must gain council and catchment authority
approval for clearing native vegetation.
The
President of the Local Government Association, Cr
Genia McCaffery, said Local Government is supportive of State
Government initiatives relating to metropolitan and regional strategies. The
Regional Organisations of Councils (ROCs) regularly meet with the Department of
Planning.
“These
strategies will provide the framework for the sustainable management of growth
and development in greater Sydney and regional NSW for the next 25 years.
“We
are keen to work with the State Government to develop and implement the
Metropolitan Strategy, and regional strategies, to ensure that communities
expectations are fully taken into account.
“Our
Associations would like the government to commit to a genuine partnership. However,
these strategies will fail without infrastructure plans and dedicated funding
to ensure the plans are delivered.
“Our communities want the government to remove
the threat of appointing a planning administrator or a planning panel except
where there is adequate justification,” Cr McCaffery said.
The
President of the Shires Association, Cr Col Sullivan
OAM, said the Minister for Planning could appoint a planning
administrator or panel if he took the view a council’s performance was
unsatisfactory because of the manner in which the council had dealt with
planning or development matters, the time taken or for any other reason.
“This
is a very broad and subjective test which enables the Minister to remove the
planning powers from a council without proper justification
“In addition, we have to resolve the issue of
dual consent requirements for clearing native vegetation.
“Since
2005, when the Native Vegetation Act came into force, landowners in urban
fringe areas may have to gain approval from the relevant Catchment Management
Authority as well as from council.
“We
support the objective of bringing to an end widespread land clearing, but this
needs to be properly coordinated with councils’ planning powers. Councils that
want to must be able to regulate clearing through their local environmental
plans.
“We
need a workable integration of natural resource conservation measures and that
can only be achieved by consultation and agreement with the key stakeholders
involved,” Cr Sullivan said.