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Sylvia Hale and Deborah Lilly Discuss the NSW Planning Crisis

Sylvia Hale, Greens MLC, visited Mullumbimby this week as part of a regional tour which included Lismore and Hastings Point.

Sylvia hale explained the infamous part 3A of the NSW planning Act. How it works for developers and is not good for the community or the environment. It also can lead to corruption in the planning process. Since the part 3A was introduced in 2005 about $10 million in donations have been made to the NSW labor party. and about $6 million to the NSW liberal party.

See mullumaction.org for an article and video on the draft centres policy and possible solutions to the planning crisis in NSW

Across NSW dozens of communities are feeling the impact of the draconian NSW  planning laws, especially the infamous part 3A of the planning act. Briefly this piece of legislation allows the minister of planning to "call in" a development over a certain value, and over-rule the community and local government. Theoretically the development needs to be over around $10 million dollars, but there are many instances where almost any kind of development has been called in by the minister.

All the minister has to do is declare it as "critical infrastructure and he/she can call in the development. There are many instances where this had occurred. Once the minister  has used this power he can override the heritage act, the environmental protection act and any other act. Thus  previously hard fought protection for environment, community,  and heritage  have been effectively removed. Like back to the bad old days before any environmental legislation was enacted.

According to the new planning  legislation introduced earlier this year, any block over 450m2 (tiny) can bypass local council approval process by employing a private certifying consultant.  Thus your neighbour can get approval to add another story to their house and the first thing you will know is a letter after it has been approved. There is no possibility of contesting the approval. Things like shading out solar panels removing heritage buildings destroying endangered species are all possible without community input