NSW: New planning laws will take power from people, LGA says

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2008
NSW: New planning laws will take power from people, LGA says

SYDNEY, April 11 AAP - The Local Government Association (LGA) says proposed new planning
laws will deny people a say in what happens in their own neighbourhood.

LGA president Genia McCaffrey said today a draft bill announced by Planning Minister
Frank Sartor will leave people uninformed about nearby developments.

"At the moment you have a right with the current laws that if a development happens
next door to you you're informed. And then you have a right to go and have a look at the
plans and then have a say," she told ABC Radio.

"What these laws are proposing to do is that you will not be informed. You'll only
realise what's happening when the bulldozers or the scaffolding gets erected next door."

The LGA will launch a campaign against the new laws later today.

"It's really important that people understand what the government is proposing," Ms
McCaffrey said.

"It's really important that our local communities understand that what the minister
is proposing to do is actually take away their right to have a say on what happens in
their local street, in fact what happens next door."

Developments would no longer be managed by local councils but by someone paid by the
applicant, she said.

"This is about a total power shift away from local communities to Macquarie Street
and to private industry," Ms McCaffrey said.

"This is not reform, this is change to deliver for developers and not to deliver decent
results for communities."

AAP wjf/jec/mn

KEYWORD: PLANNING LGA

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