Wednesday, 25 September 2013

Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has welcomed the NSW Government’s changes to the draft Planning Bill to be introduced to Parliament next month.

“I am pleased to see that the NSW Government has listened to the community, local councils and my own representations on behalf of constituents,” Mr O’Dea said.

“The Government has made it clear that the community and their councils will be at the front and centre of the new planning system,” he said.

In an unprecedented level of consultation the Government has listened to concerns represented in almost 5,000 submissions made on the Planning White Paper issued in April this year. Following careful redrafting, the Government now anticipates that the Planning Bill 2013 will be introduced later in this session of Parliament.

Changes to the current draft Bill include:

  • Allowing councils to modify the existing State-wide code (for houses up to two storeys) to better reflect their local area (for example, rules on privacy, overshadowing and setbacks) within certain circumstances
  • Code assessable development (for broad strategic medium/high density) will only apply in nominated growth areas (for example, transport corridors such as the North West train line or WestConnex or urban activation precincts), or areas nominated by councils
  • The target for code assessable developments has been removed entirely
  • Councils will be required to prepare Neighbourhood Impact Statements if they intend to implement code assessable development. Issues like building height, setbacks, traffic, car parking and environmental issues will be considered in detail by the community
  • The full range of current land zonings will remain as they are
  • Appeal rights will remain as they are and
  • Local and State heritage protections will continue.

“The Government is intent on hearing the voice of communities and empowering communities through their councils and the new planning system will strike the balance for everyone in the community,” Mr O’Dea said.

More information is available at www.planning.nsw.gov.au