The move comes after several residents have expressed
frustration about the lack of information on the process behind DAs.
Recently, Erskineville resident Mark McPherson became
concerned about a DA that was attached to his neighbour’s house, which involved
removing an existing single-storey house and replacing it with three
three-storey houses.
Mr McPherson and his partner wrote a detailed objection to
the DA but were surprised to find that all they received in reply was a simple
letter saying, “Thanks for your submission but the proposed development has
been approved.”
“It seems that a Planning Officer is placed in charge of the
assessment and gets input from the Council Heritage Specialist,” Mr McPherson
told the Herald. “The Heritage Specialist looks at whether the proposed
development is in keeping with the other dwellings in the street, and then the
Planning Officer makes the final decision.”
Mr McPherson says the decision had already been made about
the development near him, even before all the submissions had come in.
Andrew Woodhouse,
of the Potts Point and Kings Cross Conservation Society, welcomes any attempt
to help clarify the process.
“DAs affect property values and take up huge slabs of
residents’ time, often time they don’t have, with many residents working
full-time as well. To lodge objections and appear at Council meetings on short
notice and then in the NSW
Land and Environment
Court puts residents at an unfair disadvantage.”
Mr Woodhouse says groups like his have often had to inform
residents about how the DA process works. “This has put an enormous strain on
our slender resources,” he said.
Cr Black said at the May meeting where he proposed the brochure
that people may only object once or twice in their life, but they need more
comprehensive information if that time comes.
Source: South Sydney Herald July 2007 http://www.southsydneyherald.com.au/