Planning powers send REDWatch white

Politicians and planning groups have united in condemning the NSW Government’s proposed overhaul of the state’s planning regulations.

Released in April, the government’s White Paper promises to hand unprecedented powers to Planning Minister Brad Hazzard to approve developments, diminishing community engagement at the latter stage of the planning process.

Community group REDWatch held a planning forum at Redfern Town Hall on Monday night, which Mr Hazzard did not attend.

“This White Paper and the proposed draft exposure bill is probably one of the greatest attacks on our way of life I think this state has ever produced,” said Labor MP Ron Hoenig. “This is just a developer-driven document designed to make sure that nobody other than the developers in effect have a say about development in this state.”

The White Paper changes the definition of ‘sustainable development’ away from an emphasis on ecological integrity towards the “integration of economic, environmental and social considerations”. The first object of the new Planning Bill 2013 is “economic growth and environmental and social well-being through sustainable development”.

“They will say it’s a solution to the NSW economic problems, they will say this will be the solution to jobs and they will be saying it’s the solution to economic investment,” said Mr Hoenig.

“But they will be sticking up high rise Meriton Apartment buildings on every single piece of dirt that they can get their hands on. The legislation is just an unmitigated disaster that is coming our way.”

Greens MP David Shoebridge said prior notification of development will now only occur if developments are not compliant with planning codes.

“You’ll only be notified by your local council about code assessable development if the development is not compliant with the code, and then it will go down a merit assessment track,” he said.

“If it’s a compliant development – and they want to have 80 per cent of development as that – literally the first notice you’ll get about 80 per cent of development in the state is a courtesy notice before the bulldozers move in or the trees are chopped down or the house is demolished next door to you.”

Jill Reich, a representative from the planning department, countered that the time spent on community engagement was mostly for household renovations.

“80 per cent of development applications that are currently going through the system are under $290,000 in value, and they generally make up alterations and renovations,” she said.

“I think contrary to some of the comments you have heard tonight, the ability to get involved in shaping the vision of Sydney and the future of Sydney is actually really exciting.”

Corinne Fisher, convener of the Better Planning Network, established the group in August last year in light of changing planning regulations.

“The problem is the Act sets up a number of ways in which the strategic plan can be overridden. The Minister can amend at any point in time any level of strategic plan without community consultation and without right of appeal,” she said.

“At any point, the developer can come around and put in an application to the Director General [Sam Haddad] to have his or her development which doesn’t comply with the local code approved. No need for community consultation, no right of appeal.”