A question asked in Parliament by Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea has brought welcome news for residents of Davidson – and beyond.
Mr O'Dea's question was addressed to Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard: "How is the Government engaging with the community to reform the NSW Planning System?"
It was appropriate that Mr O'Dea asked the question, given issues surrounding planning in the previously designated Ku-ring-gai Town Centres and community concerns over proposed new zoning classifications in the draft Warringah LEP.
"The Minister's reply opens the door to greater flexibility in developing Local Environment Plans (LEPs) at the local level," Mr O'Dea said.
"I encourage local councils and their communities to use this opportunity to have their say on a more appropriate standard instrument LEP, which better reflects local issues.
"The Minister has established a Local Planning Panel, which will engage with local councils and report back to Government on how the standard instrument can be improved," he said.
Minister Hazzard said the Government is particularly interested in feedback on:
- The delivery and preferred timing of standard instrument LEPs;
- The impediments to finalising standard instrument LEPs;
- Implementation issues relating to standard clauses, definitions and policies; and
- Opportunities for greater flexibility to reflect local conditions.
Mr O'Dea said "At a community meeting I attended in Belrose late last month, a lack of flexibility to reflect local conditions appeared to be the major obstacle for Warringah Council's classification of land, particularly in the Belrose and Oxford Falls areas.
"The recent Land and Environment Court finding that the Labor Government's Town Centres plan for Ku-ring-gai is of no legal force or effect has also highlighted a need to better engage with residents and reflect local community expectations.
"This Government is demonstrating a commitment to return planning powers to local communities. Allowing greater flexibility in developing LEPs is part of this process and I encourage those with a view to have their say," Mr O'Dea concluded.
