Media Centre
Councillors join call for Inquiry
Howard Jones | Border Mail | 2nd May 2008ALBURY councillors donned yellow shirts yesterday in a show of protest at changes to planning laws.The council is joining others across NSW in calling for a parliamentary inquiry into Planning Minister Frank Sartor’s legislation.
Among other things, the changes will reduce the number of planning applications on which neighbours must be consulted.It will also drastically reduce the number of developments on which elected councillors or their planning staff make decisions. Click here for more
Council objects to proposed NSW Planning changes
Byron Shire News | 1st May 2008Byron Council has lodged an objection to the proposal by State Planning Minister, Frank Sartor to alter the NSW Planning legislation, which is expected to be considered by Parliament this month.
Acting general manager, Ray Darney said while the council agreed with a philosophy to improve the planning system, Mr Sartor's proposals made it more complex, while at the same time taking away citizens' rights. Click here for more
Say no to Frank
Amanda Keene | Northern News | 29th April 2008BAULKHAM Hills Council's call for residents to oppose the State Government's planning reforms has reached a sympathetic audience.A plebiscite posted to 56,000 ratepayers recently has returned more than 2000 positive responses.
The proposed changes take planning powers from local government and increase the role of private certifiers."We have received no negative comments at all," Mayor Sonya Phillips said. Click here for more
Compulsory acquisition threatens private property
Harvey Grennan | Sydney Morning Herald | 19th April 2008Property bought would be then re-sold to developers at a profit - or, if they choose, at a reduced price so the developers make even more money. Click here for more
State can sell your home
Harvey Grennan | Sydney Morning Herald | 19th April 2008THE State Government plans to give its agencies and councils power to compulsorily acquire private land to re-sell to developers at a profit - or, if they choose, at a reduced price so the developers make even more money. Click here for more
Planning Laws Forge Ahead
Inner West Weekly | Wednesday 9 April | 2008 2:00pm
PLANNING Minister Frank Sartor has released a draft exposure bill ushering in the biggest changes to planning laws since the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act of 1979. Click here for more
Fight the wolves at your door
Penrith Press | Tuesday 22 April, 2008COUNCILS across NSW have warned their residents to be "very afraid" about the latest "pro-developer" laws proposed by the State Government.Local councils, shires and mayors joined forces last Friday to launch the "Keep It Local" campaign a bid to keep vital planning controls and developer contributions in the local community. Click here for more
Local issues Local Decisions
Angela Roche | Northern Daily Leader | April 18, 2008There is concern local input into planning decisions would be lost if proposed changes to State Government planning laws become a reality. Click here for more
Highly polished Carr a rust bucket in disguise
Elizabeth Farrelly | Sydney Morning Herald | April 9, 2008 Over three years of amendments that leave our planning legislation looking like plate glass after a ram-raid, hugely expanding the minister's discretion while cutting that of councils. Over how councils constantly cop flak on timing while applications regularly sit on the minister's desk for months. Click here for more
Bill to overhaul planning laws
Wendy Frew | Sydney Morning Herald | February 26, 2008 Planning Minister Frank Sartor has announced a draft bill, flagging the biggest changes to planning laws since the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act of 1979. Click here for more
Anger at planning changes
Len Ashworth | 24 January, 2008 A prominent Labor Councillor on Lithgow City Council believes the latest planned amendments to the New South Wales planning laws provide further support for those who argue that State Governments should be abolished in favour of a two tier system. Click here for more
Now for the off-the-peg rapid reno
Wendy Frew | Sydney Morning Herald | April 4, 2008 HOME builders and renovators could have their plans approved by councils in as little as 10 days with the help of a series of pre-set housing standards contained in an overhaul of NSW planning. Click here for more
Councils dispute 'simpler' approvals
Harvey Grennan | Sydney Morning Herald | April 8, 2008 THE last time the planning laws in NSW were "simplified" in 1997 the delays in processing development applications got a lot worse. Last week the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, tabled 137 pages of draft legislation and 39 pages of explanatory notes to "simplify" them further. Click here for more
Powers stripped
Tuesday 8 April, 2008 The bill will introduce the biggest changes to planning laws since the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act of 1979. "He is taking the 'local' out of local government," Baulkham Hills Shire Mayor Sonya Phillips said. Click here for more
Parties cool on donations inquiry
Lauren Wilson | April 07, 2008 BOTH sides of politics in NSW yesterday distanced themselves from mounting calls for a royal commission into political donations from property developers. Click here for more
DA report sets Sartor against local councils
Wendy Frew | Sydney Morning Herald | March 20, 2008 The acting president of the Local Government Association of NSW, Leo Kelly, said the rights of residents to have a say about development in their area must be protected in any changes to planning laws. Click here for more
Mayors launch $500m revolt against Sheriff Sartor
Wendy Frew and Jano Gibson | Sydney Morning Herald | January 31, 2008 COUNCILS across NSW have launched a campaign of civil disobedience, refusing to hand over to the State Government essential community service funds worth $500 million a year. Click here for more
Builders lobby to freeze out councils
Wendy Frew | Sydney Morning Herald | February 26, 2008 PROPERTY developers have seized on allegations involving Wollongong City Council's planning department to call for the assessment of major developments to be taken away from local government. Click here for more
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