NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor released a discussion paper last week outlining more than 80 recommendations to "renovate the planning system."
These are the biggest changes to the NSW planning system in nearly 30 years, with the Department collating feedback from the recent 'New Ideas in Planning' forum.
"We want to remove the clutter and create a strong, 21st century planning system in NSW," Mr Sartor said. "It's aimed directly at families who want to improve their single biggest asset - the family home - with minor capital works."
The recommendations include more use of complying development so that around half of all development proposals can be determined within ten days - 85% faster than current averages.
The new system aims to embrace ePlanning, so that families can eventually track the progress of their development applications on-line, as can objectors.
The Planning Minister would delegate the majority of State Significant projects to a new Planning Assessment Commission for determination.
The new system would be faster and cheaper, with simpler reviews of stalled smaller applications by a planning arbitrator, with new targets to reduce the processing times of development applications and local plans.
Palerang Council is attempting to finalise a new Local Environment Plan before the end of the current Council in September 2008.
According to the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW, the proposed changes "threaten the ability for families to have a say on what is built next door."
"Increased powers to building certifiers and the implementation of regional panels would reduce council planning powers and the ability for mums and dads to have a say on what is being built next door," President of the Local Government Association of NSW, Cr Genia McCaffery said. "Regional developments can be anything from a shopping centre to a block of units - which all have a significant impact on the look and feel of communities."
"On the plus side we are relieved the minister has listened to Local Government and acknowledged the importance of e-planning, but we will examine the Planning Assessment Commission closely to ensure the Government's powers are not expanded" said McCaffery.
The paper advocates extending the role of private certifiers. President of the Shires Association of NSW, Cr Miller said "it is irresponsible to increase the power of private certifiers under current circumstances."
Convenor of Country Labor and Member of the Premier's Rural Task Force, Steve Whan MP, said country councils should welcome Mr Sartor's discussion paper. "Planning has been a consistent theme for local councils at the six Rural and Regional Task Force hearings around NSW," Steve Whan said.
Steve Whan said that councils, in particular, had raised their concerns about the length of time it takes to develop new Local Environment Plans (LEP).
"Local Government has also raised with the Premier's Rural and Regional Task Force the problems it has getting the staff to run their own planning systems.
The planning discussion paper suggests a range of changes that would simplify planning at local council level allowing council planners to concentrate more on strategic work and larger projects, saving them time and the public frustration" said Whan.
"I would urge all councils and interested residents in rural areas to look at the planning reform proposals and make any comments by February 8, 2008" said Whan. The document has been supplied for exhibition to all local councils or can be found at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/planning_ reforms
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