DELEGATES to the peak local government conference at Tamworth have condemned the recent announcement by the Minns Government of a new planning body that will bypass local councils and communities on large housing developments.
The unanimous move was one of the first items of business at the Local Government NSW Annual Conference.
The sector has voiced widespread concern at the Premier’s announcement on Friday, which will see a three-person planning authority given responsibility for housing developments over $60 million in the Sydney region and over $30 million in rural and regional areas.
Statements in support of the motion referred to the need for communities to retain their voice in such developments via their democratically elected councils.
LGNSW resident Cr Darriea Turley said the housing crisis is multi-faceted and requires all three spheres of government working together.
“The local government sector is already doing our part and delegates to our conference are keen to work with State Government for further reform,” Cr Turley said.
What we don’t need though is for councils and communities to be pushed aside and excluded from the process in a move that will only lead to inappropriate overdevelopment and increased profits for developers.
“The announcement adds more uncertainty to the planning system and will further delay actual construction of housing on already approved sites.
“Why would developers build under the many approvals that already exist, when the NSW Government is effectively encouraging them to lodge new applications that exceed local planning controls, and where they can make windfall profits from spot rezoning.
“We call on the Minns government to abandon plans for this undemocratic body and to work with us and with our communities.”
