NSW: Coalition to give communities greater planning power

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NSW: Coalition to give communities greater planning power

By Linda Silmalis, State Political Correspondent

SYDNEY, Feb 19 AAP - Local communities would be granted greater control to choose theshape, density and character of their neighbourhoods under a NSW Coalition policy to putthe brakes on over-development.

State Opposition leader Kerry Chikarovski said the existing planning regulations hadresulted in over-development, the loss of neighbourhood character and the "quarter acreblock".

Mrs Chikarovski, who will launch the Community First policy today, said the plan wouldreverse the state government's urban consolidation policies which had damaged local communities.

Local communities had been stripped of powers to protect their neighbourhoods.

Town houses, units and high rises had been built in place of family homes, destroyinglifestyles of residents and local character, she said.

The plan includes staged urban land releases to cater for population growth, a newapproval process for urban consolidation applications and wider community consultationin planning issues.

"Labor has betrayed local communities by introducing formal urban planning policiesthat tie up local government and shut out local residents," said Mrs Chikarovski.

"In government, Labor has not had the courage or commitment to protect local community interests.

"Instead, they have shirked their responsibility to produce a comprehensive and co-ordinatedpopulation, development, infrastructure and transport plan for the Sydney basin."

It also includes the abolition of the controversial SEPP 5 and SEPP 53 planning codeswhich the opposition claimed were being exploited to the advantage of developers.

SEPP 5 was introduced to allow for the construction of units and homes for older peopleor the disabled.

But the opposition claimed lack of enforcement meant buildings were not always usedfor the purpose they were intended.

The Coalition's proposed planning code would look at enforcing developers to ensurethe "over 55s" and disabled residents occupied buildings constructed for that purpose.

Developers may also be forced to include a number of units suitable for older or disabledresidents.

The Coalition would also investigate allowing "granny flats" to be built on existingtitle to enable older people to live near their families.

SEPP 53, which encouraged urban consolidation, would be replaced with a "balanced alternative"

worked out with the community.

It would take into account the need to accommodate an estimated 2 million new residentsover the next 50 years while taking the pressure away from Sydney's inner and middle ring,it said.

The policy is the fourth from the Coalition ahead of the March 2003 election.

State opposition planning spokesman John Brogden said existing planning policies hadfavoured developer interests over existing communities.

Mrs Chikarovski said more details relating to the policy would be released in the coming months.

AAP ls/arb/mg/br

KEYWORD: URBAN