Council swipes at green groups

Gosford Council's manager of integrated planning, Mr Eddie Love, has entered the debate about the environmental adequacy of the council's draft planning scheme.

He has taken a swipe at the region's leading environmental groups, describing their position "misleading and incorrect".

His statement puts Gosford Council on a collision course with the region's environment movement.

Implying that environmentalists should not question or disagree with council staff explanations of the Draft Local Environment Plan (DLEP), he said: "The vast majority of people have been either happy, satisfied or at least understand the issue that they enquired about after discussion with Council staff."

Mr Love said: "Media attention however has been given to a few individuals representing groups or land owners with particular interests and have conveyed what may be considered by some as misleading and incorrect information."

Mr Love made the statement in answer to questions put to him by Peninsula News about environmental criticism of the DLEP.

Despite these statements, Mr Love claimed the council was able to remain objective.

"Council must approach preparation of the DLEP from an objective position," he said.

Media statement, 17 Mar 2010 Eddie Love, Gosford Council