[Greens-Media] Media Release: Developers winning 83% of controversial 'Pre-Gateway' planning appeals

[David Shoebridge MLC]

*Media Release: Developers winning 83% of controversial 'Pre-Gateway'
planning appeals*


New research from the Greens shows that 83% of developers' rezoning
applications, called "pre-gateway" reviews, are decided by the State
planning department in favour of developers and against the wishes of local
communities and local councils.



For the past two years the NSW Coalition Government has allowed developers
to pay the state government $20,000 for the ‘right’ to appeal a council
decision that fails to rezone their land. This appeal process is known as a
“pre-gateway” review.

Since the review process was introduced in 2012 there have been 23
pre-gateway determinations of which 19 of the developer-requested rezonings
have been supported and only 4 refused. In every single pre-gateway
application the local council has not supported it.


This means despite the lack of community support the state government's
pre-gateway review process is supporting the developers' rezoning
applications a staggering 83% of the time.

See reporting in the SMH here:
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/unpopular-planning-process-under-scrutiny-20140526-38zj6.html

Greens MP and Planning Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

“Pre-Gateway reviews are routinely seeing local communities’ wishes
overridden for developer profits.



“Allowing a developer to pay $20,000 to appeal a local council’s decision
to refuse a rezoning shows just how far the Coalition government has
strayed from its pre-election promise to return planning powers to
communities.



"Recent statements that the government has launched an internal review of
pre-gateway applications give cold comfort to a community that knows how
strongly the planning department is pushing to remove local council
planning powers.


"When the community is losing out more than 80% of the time, even this
government should realise something is seriously wrong.



“These pre-gateway processes are stacked against the community from day one
and should never have been allowed by the Coalition, or any other,
government.

"Local councils are stuck spending scarce ratepayer’s money protecting the
public interest against developers who can spend hundreds of thousands of
dollars challenging council decisions in pursuit of private profits.



“Whether it is the Coalition or Labor in charge of NSW planning, it is
still the same old story, the developers with the deepest pockets always
get their way,” Mr Shoebridge said.

-- 



* David ShoebridgeGreens MP in the NSW Legislative Council P: (02) 9230
3030 |Media: 0408 113 952|T: @ShoebridgeMLC
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