Council reinstates redacted submission
A Woy Woy resident has had important parts of a submission about a development application "redacted" for the second time in six months.
And for the second time, Central Coast Council planning staff have conceded their mistake and reinstated the redacted section.
Mr Frank Wiffen submitted a coloured plan showing the effect of setback non-compliance in a development application for 42 South St, Umina.
"Setbacks on this project are non-compliant. See diagram below for a graphical representation.
"The area of this proposal which is in breach of the setback requirements of the DCP are shown in red," he said in his submission.
However, the diagram was redacted from the submission, when it was displayed on the council's planning portal.
Mr Wiffen's submission stated: "According to the notified plans the site measures 51,815mm x 15,240mm.
"Assuming these figures are correct, the required area of deep soil would be 342.14 square metres.
"However, only 194.3 square metres is provided in this proposal.
"Deep soil seems to be becoming a scarce commodity on the Peninsula.
"In addition to helping to counter the heat sink effect by providing an area for trees and other vegetation, it allows rainwater to filter down to groundwater level as shown on the Central Coast Council's Water Supply animation."
When the submission was published with the redaction, Mr Wiffen wrote to council staff on November 8: "On my submission, a diagram demonstrating the extent of setback non-compliance was completely blacked out.
"Apart from street names identifying the site of the actual DA, there was no personal identifying information.
"There was nothing offensive either as far as I could determine.
"Could you please let me know the reason for the redaction?"
Mr Wiffen received a reply from a council administrative officer 10 days later stating: "Your submission was most likely redacted by our records section as it showed a plan in it.
"I have removed the redacted version and made your submission public for the website in its entirety."
In August, a shadow diagram provided by Mr Wiffen in support of his submission about a proposed block of flats in Brickwharf Rd, Woy Woy, was redacted.
It was reinstated when Mr Wiffen challenged its deletion.
Mr Wiffen said that in both cases the diagrams were an important part of the substance of his submission.
He said: "No public submission made about a development application should be censored by council staff.
"Residents should not have to challenge these unjustified redactions."
Mr Wiffen said that the publication of the full submission was not only a matter of procedural fairness, but also an important part of the local democratic process.
He said the council should be employing staff who were able to exercise responsible judgement, rather than simply deleting any diagram or plan submitted as a matter of course.
SOURCE:
Media statement, 26 Nov 2021
Frank Wiffen, Woy Woy