Government promotes 'planning confusion principle'

"Council rejects threat to democracy" was the Peninsula News headline back in June 2014.

The report was about the proposal to authorise Mr Paul Anderson, CEO of Gosford Council, to "determine all planning applications that he deemed were in accordance with council's policies".

We now know this would have included developments exceeding regulations by at least 210 per cent.

Fortunately, at that time, the councillors voted unanimously to defeat the proposal, now known as "democracy in reverse".

Recent issues of Peninsula News have reported on Gosford Council's proposed carefree sale of community land.

There has been, and continues to be, community objections to this decision, with public meetings and protests to challenge this dictatorial administration.

The Draft Central Coast Regional Plan refers to a "flexible regulatory environment" as an advantage of the development approval process.

Meanwhile, in another NSW Government office, the Minister for Local Government, Mr Paul Toole, supports "simplified council regulations as each council is currently responsible for separate and potentially inconsistent regulatory environments".

What actions have the Premier, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Planning taken to ensure that developments exceeding planning regulations by 210 per cent are not approved?

What actions has the government initiated to investigate the whole planning system?

It is no surprise there is unrest and opposition.

The "Planning Confusion Principle" states: Each government authority and Local Government Area in NSW will independently of other government authorities and LGAs make decisions to advance the interests of its management without public consultation, transparency or accountability.

What a mess, Mr Baird.

Letter, 9 Feb 2016

Norman Harris, Umina