By Rob O'Brien

A decision by Premier Kristina Keneally to review planning laws introduced during the financial crisis has left local government fuming.

Ms Keneally yesterday announced a review of the legislation that has allowed for quicker approvals of school projects and public housing developments funded under the Federal Government’s economic stimulus package.

The Local Government and Shire Association of New South Wales (LGSA) said that councils wanted the State Government to consider the impacts on local communities before making a decision to extend the planning laws.

“While we welcome a review into the economic stimulus measures, we’re extremely concerned that planning powers under the package might be abused by private developers if they are extended to commercial or residential developments,” said LGSA President Genia McCaffery.

“In our meetings with Premier Keneally while she was planning Minister, we were assured that any changes to planning controls were restricted to developments under the stimulus package – this was the basis for which we supported it,” she said.

“The far-reaching planning powers were put in place to combat the major economic crisis we faced and should not be given to the government under normal circumstances.”

Ms McCaffery said that communities will be at risk of losing their right to have their say on local developments if the laws are extended.

“It’s crucial that the independent audit takes into account the social impacts on local communities as well as any economic benefit.

“Under the current stimulus package, there were many instances where council development controls were been overridden or ignored - particularly in relation to car parking ratios, density, scale and height.”

Chief executive of the Urban Taskforce Aaron Gadiel said that there had been a blitzkrieg of planning approvals issued in record time for public sector proposals under the planning laws introduced last year.

“Private sector proposals have still been stuck in a ponderous 1970s planning system,” Mr Gadiel said.

“The government’s strong support for its public sector projects has been great for creating jobs and boosting economic activity, but the private sector would be capable of doing so much more.

“There is no reason why the same planning system should not apply equally to the public and private sectors.”