You may soon lose your right to object to major developments in your neighbourhood
There is a deadline of 3 June to respond to a new proposal.
The NSW State Labor Government is proposing major changes to the way communities are notified about, and allowed to comment on, development in their neighbourhoods.
Ironically, the changes are part of something called a new Statewide “Community Participation Plan”.
The Government says the aim is to “harmonise” community participation in development applications across NSW. Harmonise community participation! This is simply more jargon to reduce communication. In fact hen you read the detail, many of the changes reduce community participation.
No right to object to many major developments
Under the proposed changes, many developments may not need to be publicly exhibited at all. Who will decide that?!
That can include large apartment developments.
- No exhibition. No submissions. No say.
- Many developments could be exempt from notification entirely
The assumption appears to be: “Communities no longer need to be consulted about many more types of development.”
Even developments that technically comply can still create very real impacts for neighbours and local communities. And there may also be mistakes that are only spotted thanks to the community and neighbours that are otherwise missed. That’s why communities need to participate.
- You may only find out seven days before work starts
In some cases, neighbouring properties may only receive notice shortly before demolition or construction begins.
- Communities may not get to see the final proposal
Even if a development application is publicly exhibited, another major concern is the proposed removal of some second-round exhibitions.
This means changes can potentially be made to proposals after feedback is received, without communities necessarily having the opportunity to review or comment on the final version. Again, no chance to correct any errors.
What this means for you:
Planning controls are not perfect.
Inner West is the fourth highest density area of all 125 NSW Councils. It is essential that any new development in our area enables open community participation to ensure that any new developments work well in our very closely packed environment.
Even developments that “comply” can still create:
• overshadowing
• privacy impacts
• parking and traffic pressure
• noise and disruption
• loss of local character
These are exactly the kinds of issues communities currently raise through the exhibition process.
The Government argues these new reforms will make the system more “efficient”.
But many residents will reasonably ask: “efficient” for whom?
The NSW Government wants more community consultation pushed upstream into broad strategic planning documents and less consultation when specific developments are proposed.
But most people do not engage with abstract planning frameworks covering entire precincts years in advance.
They engage when a real proposal appears beside their home, on their street, or in their neighbourhood.
That is, the participation we have right now and what they want to scale it back.
The draft Community Participation Plan is currently on exhibition until 3 June. This is a huge change, it is rushed and places communities at a disadvantage
If you believe communities should still have the right to be informed and have a meaningful say about developments in their neighbourhoods then we ask you to:
- Please write a brief submission by Wednesday 3rd June and submit it using the link below.
And remind the State Planning Minister Paul Scully , our local State member Jo Haylen and the Inner West Council’s Mayor Darcy Byrne that “Community Participation” only works if communities are actually allowed to participate.
They Sydney Morning Herald published an article today on these changes. We agree with Fairfield City Mayor who sums it up well:
