[Greens-Media] A Promising Start on Part 3A - But New Laws Require Scrutiny

[David Shoebridge]

A Promising Start on Part 3A - But New Laws Require Scrutiny
MEDIA RELEASE - 13 May 2011

The Greens have called the Coalition's initial move to send some developments back to local councils, rather than assess them centrally under Part 3A, a promising start for planning reform. However the real test for the Coalition will be when new laws are tabled in the coming months to deal with large developments across the State.

Greens MP and Planning Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

"The Greens have been calling for the abolition of Part 3A since it was put on the books by Labor in 2005.

"This announcement by the planning minister is a promising start, however the real devil will be in the detail of the new laws he will be bringing to parliament in the coming months.

"We must ensure that the Coalition don't repeat Labor's mistakes of a centralized planning system that ignores local wishes.

"The Government's announcement leaves virtually all mining, industrial and infrastructure developments still being assessed by the State under Part 3A.  This needs urgent attention because almost all serious players in the NSW development industry have acknowledged that this law is broken and can't be fixed.

"Part 3A has been a get out of gaol free card for developers who have consistently used it to ignore local planning controls and oversize their developments so as to maximize their profits.  It has caused untold damage around the State and the Greens welcome it's demise.

"For more than a decade the Greens have been campaigning for locally responsive, environmentally sustainable and rule-based development laws in NSW.  This will remain our focus as we scrutinize this Government's changes in Parliament." Mr Shoebridge said.

For more information contact: 0433 753 376 / 0408 113 952
 
 
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David Shoebridge
Greens MLC
NSW Parliament
PH: (02) 9230 3030
FX: (02) 9230 2159
www.davidshoebridge.org.au