Rate averages revealed

Councillors were given answers to some of their Questions without Notice at recent Gosford Council meetings.

The Combined Progress Association has been concerned that "minor variations" to approved development applications are receiving council approval without any advertising requirement.

A small number of applicants whose applications were approved were using this strategy after neighbours and other interested parties had time to lodge objections or make comments.

These "minor variations" have been approved by Council officers, with no reference to those who might have objected, had the variation been included in the original application.

For example a shed that was originally to be some distance from the water’s edge, had its approved location changed so that it became a boat shed by the water’s edge.

Another concern is that conditions of approval are not being enforced because Council officers do not adequately check that applicants have complied with the conditions of consent.

An alleged example identified by a lawyer speaking at the Council meeting of March 7 on behalf of a resident, is of a water-bottling plant that was to have been built 200 metres from a neighbour’s fence but was actually built only 40 metres from the fence.

There are also examples of developments that have never been approved.

Cr Doyle commented on the vagueness of a condition that is suggested for an amended development application, namely, "… in a clean and tidy condition to Council’s satisfaction".

Such vagueness is unfair to both the developer and Council officers.

The conditions need to be specific.

Council Matters, by John Oakley