10 August 2011
Planning Minister Brad Hazzard has asked Warringah Council to re-exhibit a revised draft of its standard instrument-compliant local environmental plan. The council exhibited the Warringah Local Environmental Plan in late 2009, and submitted a final version for ministerial approval in 2010.
Apparently residents in Belrose, Oxford Falls, Cromer and Frenchs Forest have raised concerns about their suburbs being rezoned as E4 environmental management under the Standard Instruments zoning hierarchy.
In a letter to Warringah Mayor Michael Regan, Mr Hazzard said the residents were concerned the new classification would limit the use of their properties.
If council chooses to reject my request, then I will of course deal with my statutory roles in due course as the Minister for Planning irrespective of the councils response to my request contained, he said.
However, I stress that I am hopeful council will be prepared to accede to my request.
The implication is that Mr Hazzard will refuse to publish the councils version of the local environmental plan.
Warringah Mayor Michael Regan told local media that he would not support any plan to put the LEP back on public exhibition.
Instead he wants the government to approve the document and consider a future amendment to alleviate the residents concerns.
He said the council would happily work with the planning department on the amendment.
Its been five years in the making, this document, he said.
Any more delays is going to hurt the people waiting for the current LEP to be gazetted.
Mr Hazzards proposal for further public consultation has been welcomed by the newly-formed Warringah Urban Fringe Association, which has lobbied against the suburbs being reclassified.
Media reports are available here. More information on the draft LEP is available here.
