Calls for new planning laws
Forces united at a public forum against the Barangaroo development last week saying it is the largest example of failed planning legislation in NSW.
Speakers represented the National Trust, Clean Up Australia, NSW Planning Institute, Australian Institute of Architects, Sydney Council, the Greens, and the state opposition.
Greens MLC David Shoebridge condemned Lend Lease and the State Government’s lack of transparency and said planning legislation had become meaningless.
“We need to get rid of this rotten and corrupt planning system,” he said.
“It (Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act) gives the Minister for Planning the power to approve developments which have absolutely no regard to the planning laws that are set in place by the City of Sydney.”
“There are no rules to this. It is just whatever they can get away with without regard to the other rules that apply to use when we want to do an extension at the back of our house, yet a $7 billion development is a rules-free zone.”
Mr Shoebridge last week moved a motion calling on a commitment from the parties to place an immediate moratorium on the approval by the Minister for Planning of any existing applications under Part 3A approvals.
Winner of the international competition Phillip Thalis said he had been denied the opportunity to show his winning scheme and the reason why it had won.
“We were excluded almost straight away and then the whole series of changes were carried out by government agencies in secret,” he said.
Stephen Buzacott, from the Australian Institute of Architects said there needed to be a transparent master plan process with adequate public consultation.
“It is important to remind ourselves the whole of Barangaroo is public land yet the government has signed away development rights to one third of this publicly-owned site to one developer,” he said.
“The government needs to fuel responsibility as an informed client and advocate for the public.”
Shadow Minister for Planning Brad Hazzard said he was disappointed the opposition had not been consulted on the planning process.
“Kristina Keneally has insisted that we have been consulted. It is simply not true. We have been told, just as the community has been told what Labor intends to do,” he said.
Mr Shoebridge said there needed to be a commitment to establish an independent state planning commission.
He called for the commission to have broad community support with elected members needing to be approved by a 75 per cent majority in both houses of parliament.
“This will get rid of the idea of this next government imposing its friends and its mates on the independent state planning commission,” he said.
Final decisions on proposed amendments to the concept plan are expected to be made in the coming weeks.
By Sophie Cousins
