Login
ISCOVER
The NSW government has announced that expert independent planning panels will be mandatory in Sydney and Wollongong for certain development applications.
Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts and Minister for Local Government Gabrielle Upton have announced a new bill to introduce mandatory Independent Hearing and Assessment Panels (IHAPs) for development applications in metropolitan Sydney and Wollongong for developments worth between $5 million and $30 million.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Looking for more benefits? Become a Premium Member.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Looking for more benefits? Become a Premium Member.
An IHAP will require one expert in one or more of the following fields: planning, architecture, heritage, the environment, urban design, economics, traffic and transport, law, engineering, tourism, or government and public administration.
The chairperson must also have expertise in law or government and public administration.
“I introduced legislation to end the dodgy and dirty backroom deals that have gone on for far too long inside local councils,” Mr Roberts said, announcing the new legislation on Facebook.
“The introduction of mandatory IHAPs across Greater Sydney means that shonky developers and their mates will no longer be able to flaunt their power with elected councillors in order to get their DAs through.
“To the lurk merchants and spivs who inhabit the dark corridors of council chambers across Sydney, your trade is done. Get another job. The jig is up.
“The NSW government is done with your corrupt and dodgy behaviour.”
This decision follows calls for experts, rather than politicians, to weigh in on development applications.
The announcement has been welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, with its deputy executive, Cheryl Thomas, commenting: “The announcement is good news for both the community and for industry because it means the politics will be taken out of planning — experts will make the decisions on development, not local politicians.
“It is good to see that the government has listened to the community and supports what is a common-sense approach to planning; councils should set the rules and strategic objectives for their communities and then let experts make the decisions about whether developments comply.”
Ms Thomas added that Sydney and wider NSW will continue to grow, and these mandatory planning panels will enable this growth to be streamlined and free from political influence, as well as allow for local councils to set planning rules for growth that can meet the needs of their community.
However, Local Government NSW (LGNSW) has stated that these panels could “erode local democracy”.
LGNSW president and councillor of Coffs Harbour City Council Keith Rhoades said that the decision would “reduce the accountability and transparency of planning decisions” for around 3 per cent of all development applications, and potentially cost an extra $100,000 per annum.
“Councillors are their community’s voice at the table — they have been elected to represent community views on key issues, such as planning decisions, which will have long-term impacts on neighbourhoods,” Mr Rhoades said.
“And yet the government has determined that they cannot serve on a panel.
“Instead, councils will only be able to select one community member on the four-member panel and two government-appointed experts that have been pre-approved by the minister.”
Mr Rhoades added that the decision has not affected Newcastle and other regional cities and coastal councils from the mandatory panels for the time being.
“At least, these councils can determine whether the panel option is the right choice for their area, and whether there are real benefits to the community rather than simply additional bureaucracy and cost — and less local democracy,” Mr Rhoades said.
[Related: Big banks still funding resi developments, says broker]
