27 May 2011
This week, the NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Brad Hazzard, has advised Parliament that joint regional planning panels “continue to be a source of concern”.
“Our government has indicated that it will completely overhaul the planning legislation through an 18-month review,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The joint regional planning panels will be part of that review.
“In the short term the Government is looking at democratising the joint regional planning panels on an interim basis.
“We will make announcements in relation to that hopefully in the next few weeks.”
The Urban Taskforce has been in dialogue with the NSW Government on this issue.
Mr Hazzard’s full comments are available here.
Liberal MP for Wollondilly, Jai Rowell, was more explicit, in the context of his opposition to a development known as “Macarthur Gardens”.
“The JRPP [planning] process still exists because of the Labor Party and the Macarthur Gardens application is right towards the back end of all of that process,” Mr Rowell said.
“I’ve now sought a briefing from the minister’s office on this.”
Mr Rowell’s comments are available here.
