Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea says today's announcement to scrap Part 3A Development Applications will be welcomed by many across the electorate and NSW.
"This was one of the key election promises, made by the NSW Liberals & Nationals and Barry O'Farrell has delivered within days," Mr O'Dea said.
Under the Part 3A legislation, the Planning Minister could override democratically elected local councils to determine the future of major projects.
State Cabinet today directed the Planning Minister to draw up plans to remove Part 3A from the Statute books permanently. The more than 500 Part 3A applications already in the system will be subject to transitional arrangements.
About half the applications are expected to be referred to the Planning Assessment Commission, while around 25% are estimated to be returned to local councils for determination, while those in the system for up to 2 years, will lapse.
"Those developments applications in Davidson recently lodged for approval under the Part 3A process include a multi-storey residential development in Killeaton Street, St Ives and a major reconstruction of the Lindfield Avenue shopping centre, adjacent to the Lindfield Railway Station," Mr O'Dea said.
"Both Ku-ring-gai Council and I have expressed serious concerns over these developments being assessed under Part 3A," he said.
"The decision to scrap Part 3A applications will re-empower communities by allowing them, via their local councils, a greater say on which local developments should proceed and in what form.
"I also welcome today's announcement confirming a full review of the State's planning legislation, which is expected take around 18 months to complete," Mr O'Dea concluded.
