Planning consent handed to City Council

The NSW Department of Planning has given Council powers to approve developments under $5 million, across several Harbour Foreshore sites.

For the first time in 28 years, Council now controls The Rocks, along with Walsh Bay, Darling Harbour, Banks Street (including the Sydney Fish Market), Circular Quay and the Casino Switching site.

“This transfer, which occurred on 1 May 2009, now allows the City of Sydney to deal with minor or locally significant development and allows the Department of Planning to allocate more resources for regionally significant development,” said a Department of Planning Spokesperson.

While all new development applications must be now lodged through Council, The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority still has the power to override the decision-making process.

“Perhaps the process won’t be as fast. It might take a bit longer to communicate with Council, because we’re used to dealing with the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority who are just down the road,” said Michael Lacey, President of The Rocks Chamber of Commerce.

The $5 million cap will limit what Council can control, with most major projects along the Harbour Foreshore- like the $2.6 billion Bangaroo development- still falling firmly under the State Government’s jurisdiction.

“The impact is more likely to be in domestic, rather than business situations,” said Stephen Griece, CEO of the Darling Harbour Business Association.

“The City of Sydney will only deal with DAs under $5 million because those with a capital investment value over $5 million within these sites are considered major projects under the Major Projects SEPP and dealt with by the Department of Planning under the major projects assessments system,” said the Spokesperson from the Department of Planning.

Regardless of value, The Minister for Planning will still have final control over anything that requires an approval under section 57 of the Heritage Act 1977 (unless that approval has already been obtained); and anything that doesn’t comply with the approved Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority Scheme for The Rocks, which dictates the height and building envelopes for each site

Any DA lodged before 1 May 2009 will continue to be assessed by the Department of Planning.