[Greens-Media] WA Greens - Appeal for Third Party Planning Scrutiny - Paul Llewellyn

[Anderson, Sonia]

26 August 2008

APPEAL FOR THIRD PARTY PLANNING SCRUTINY

Greens member for the South West Region Paul Llewellyn MLC is calling for third parties to have the right to appeal planning decisions as part of his campaign to support local communities in their local government planning processes.

"As the law stands at the moment, only developers can appeal development planning decisions. Local communities have no recourse to appeal bad planning decisions affecting their region.

"Western Australia is the only state in Australia that favours developers this way - all other states have some form of third party appeal right in their state planning legislation.

"These arrangements have proven to be effective and workable in every other state, and Western Australia needs to fall into line with good planning practice and law.

"I will be putting third party appeal rights firmly back on the agenda in the next term of Parliament. This action supports a State campaign for third party appeal rights being run by Speak Out WA.

"What we need is a system that allows a third party to challenge planning decisions in order to ensure genuine community consultation and engagement in decisions that affect them. This is the only way to restore integrity and credibility into our system.

"There is a wide range of issues for which this is important, from major foreshore developments in Bunbury and Busselton, to housing developments in Margaret River," Mr Llewellyn said.

"Local communities need to be given access to the checks and balances of an appeal system. Third party appeal rights will help ensure that local communities have a real say towards sustainable, appropriate development of their rural and urban landscapes.