The demise of the State Labor appointed Ku-ring-gai Planning Panel by the new Liberals & Nationals Government has been enthusiastically welcomed by Member for Davidson Jonathan O'Dea.
"Once again development applications, which qualified to be determined by a three-member panel appointed by the previous Labor Planning Minister, will be determined by the democratically-elected, local council.
"This is a great breakthrough for the people in the Ku-ring-gai Local Government area and for the Council itself. Both the Council and residents have been frustrated by the removal of local planning decisions on selected projects.
"In particular, credit must be paid to Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard, who made the order to repeal the panel.
"Despite his sickness, the Minister has acted on just his fourth day in the job to deliver on an election promise to remove the Planning Panel in Ku-ring-ai," Mr O'Dea said.
Together with Ku-ring-gai MP and now Premier, Barry O'Farrell, I have pushed to remove the Planning Panel. Its demise is not before time," Mr O'Dea said.
Today's announcement follows this week's announcement by the new O'Farrell Government to scrap the Part 3A legislation, which allowed the Planning Minister to override local councils to determine the future of major projects.
"The removal of the Ku-ring-gai Planning Panel should not be seen as a comment on the merit of any matters potentially before the panel for consideration, including the eruv proposal at St Ives," Mr O'Dea said.
"The repeal of the Panel fulfils a long-standing promise by the NSW Liberals & Nationals, which I believe will be broadly welcomed by the community.
"The people of Ku-ring-gai can once again look forward to seeing local developments determined by their local council," Mr O'Dea concluded.
