Greg Smith SC MP, the Member for Epping, and Anthony Roberts MP, the Member for Lane Cove have today warned local residents that State Labor has big planning changes proposed that residents should consider and let Planning Minister Sartor know their views.

“Residents should be cautious about State Labor’s discussion paper outlining proposed changes to the current planning system,” Mr Smith said.

“State Labor’s last major attempt (1997) at planning amendments produced a doubling of Development Applications (DAs) across the state and massive delays,” he said

“Labor also gave us private certifiers who manage developments once they are underway but residents often find that when problems arise it is hard to get a response from either the private certifier or the council, just like we’ve seen with the Officeworks development at Thornleigh.

“The discussion paper rightly looks at possible solutions but some of the proposals may cause local residents great concern,” Mr Smith said.

Lane Cove MP and former Lane Cove Mayor Anthony Roberts said that the State Government’s plans would spell an end for local involvement in planning.

“The net result of some reforms would be to exclude elected councillors from having a say, exclude neighbours from having a say and hand the whole task to planning panels of technocrats, just like we’ve seen with Frank Sartor’s decision with the Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Hospital project,” Mr Roberts said.

“The role of private certifiers would expand even though Labor haven’t got the framework right yet to ensure private certifiers are responsive to neighbours’ concerns,” he said.

“The challenge is to get the balance right and that will only happen if Labor listens to local community concerns and gets the planning framework right this time.

“Minister Sartor’s reforms seem to have a “one size fits all” approach but what might suit one local community will not suit all other communities.

“Local residents can write to Minister Sartor with their views on the proposed planning changes which can be found on the website at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/ planning_reforms/index.asp (or it can be viewed at the Council Chambers). Minister Sartor’s address for residents’ input is Level 34, Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000.

“If residents want to have a say in the future as to our communities’ identity – residents need to urgently have a say on Labor’s proposed planning changes.