The NSW Government has again affirmed its commitment to handing planning powers back to local councils, enabling Ku-ring-gai Council to make its own decisions on dual occupancy development.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard today announced the repeal of State Environmental Planning Policy No. 53 – Metropolitan Residential Development (SEPP 53).
Ku-ring-gai was the only remaining council in NSW where SEPP 53 applied.
“Today’s announcement will give Ku-ring-gai Council the power to govern dual occupancy development; no longer being dictated to by the state," Mr Hazzard said.
“For years Labor promised to scrap SEPP 53, but it took a Liberals-Nationals Government, strong community action, and local members Barry O’Farrell and Jonathan O’Dea, to rid this state of SEPP 53.”
Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea, said that this is more good news on local planning.
"Like recent action to remove the Ku-ring-gai Planning Panel and Part 3A applications to the Minister, this demonstrates the new government re-empowering local communities.
"Labor's refusal to remove SEPP 53 indicated contempt for our local community. Together with Barry O'Farrell and Planning Minister Brad Hazzard, I am pleased to have been able to deliver another excellent local outcome" said Mr O'Dea.
SEPP 53 mandated that dual occupancy be allowed on residential lots over 400 square metres, regardless of councils’ own planning controls (except on bushfire prone land).
Mr Hazzard said, “For too long communities have been at the mercy of Labor’s destructive top-down planning controls, which have failed local communities and made them vulnerable to inappropriate development.
“Today is only one step in the NSW Government’s localised approach to planning, which empowers local councils and puts ratepayers at the centre of decision making. The NSW Liberals and Nationals will ensure future developments are decided by the community, for the community, and do not destroy this state’s precious local landscape," Mr Hazzard concluded.
