Leichhardt Council cries out for O’Farrell intervention

Leichhardt Council is calling for the Premier to overturn the Joint Regional Planning Panel’s (JRPP) latest decision on the controversial Police Local Area Command Centre development.

The outcry for Barry O’Farrell to intervene comes after the JRPP granted NSW Police an additional month to resolve issues with their $12 million development for Derbyshire Road.

Council, who have twice rejected the development application, were so appalled by the extension they plan to appeal directly to the JRPP to revoke it.

“I’m quite concerned about the applicant being given such extensions of time and I think it is becoming questionable as to how the process is working,” said Councillor John Stamolis.

He said the applicant’s request for yet another extension showed “they are simply not able to resolve these impacts on nearby residents”.

Councillor Stamolis stressed that NSW Police had been given ample time to investigate the situation throughout the application process.

Mayor of Leichhardt Rochelle Porteous wanted to know what additional work was being carried out that justified the month-long extension.

“When we normally consider an extension of time for a development application, we’d be asking an applicant why the time frame wasn’t sufficient,” she said. “In my opinion that’s normal protocol.”

But when the Mayor requested this information she was left empty handed.

Mayor Porteous raised her concerns earlier this month; listing traffic congestion, parking and safety as major problems.

“We have a park with a major new playground and a high school within 20 metres of the LAC, which will have first response vehicles needing to exit the site at speed,” she said.

“Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch admitted the first response drivers may need to exceed speed limits.”

With the extension being granted, Mayor Porteous has asked JRPP to give objectors, like residents and nearby High School Sydney Secondary College, additional time to present their concerns before the Panel.

But the Leichhardt Community Group aren’t so sure this will help their cause.

Teena Clerke who is a member of the group said: “The JRPP are refusing to listen to the community.”

She said of the 243 submissions received by Council, 241 opposed the proposal.

Ms Clerke believed the Panel’s decision to grant the extension revealed how “draconian” the process was and proved the JRPP had
given the police “not only leeway but also a leg-up”.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch could not be reached for comment.