Bypass council on planning, says chamber

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has called for Part 3A of the State's planning act to be replaced with another measure that would bypass local government for major development proposals.

Part 3A of the act was used by the Minister of Planning to approve the Tesrol development at Ettalong last year after Gosford Council had opposed the development.

Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales, who operates a planning consultancy and supported the Tesrol application, said the Chamber was concerned about State Government plans to repeal the Part 3A provisions of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

"Although we knew this to be an election promise, the building and development industry is concerned that the NSW Government has not put forward any alternative mechanisms to ensure that major development can proceed where it gets held up in the local government process," he said.

"It was generally acknowledged that the old Part 3A system had its problems, but simply abolishing the process and not replacing it with a viable alternative is a real concern.

"Council's don't always act in the State's interests and it is essential that the NSW Government make provisions to call up major projects where necessary," Mr Wales said.

"However, the Chamber welcomes Barry O'Farrell's announcement that the current planning legislation will be reviewed over the next 18 months, which is consistent with promises made by the Minister for the Central Coast Chris Hartcher to the NSW Business Chamber just prior to the election.

"It is vitally important that the planning laws be overhauled, and that includes the provisions that govern the new Draft Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2009, which is still before Gosford Council.".

Mr Wales said the chamber was concerned that the Draft Gosford LEP 2009 continued to be delayed, with it now being referred to the Minister for Planning.

"Clearly, there will be a lot of uncertainty over the next few months but we encourage the NSW Government and the Minister for the Central Coast to ensure that transitional planning arrangements are made and that the Gosford LEP is sorted out quickly," he said.

Media Release, 5 April Matthew Wales,Peninsula Chamber Of Commerce