Key Newcastle site up for grabs again

Empire Hotel site to be redeveloped.

1 September, 2015

Three tiers of government clash over population growth

Planning reform for redevelopment.

19 January, 2015

Positions splinter on NSW planning overhaul

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski Extensive changes to planning and development laws proposed by the New South Wales government have produced widely divergent positions among key stakeholders in the local government and property development sectors as negotiations with Macquarie Street start in earnest. NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard announced the proposed […]

18 April, 2013

NSW government puts council decision-making powers at risk

By Staff Writers Drastic changes to New South Wales planning laws have been tipped to slash the amount of time councils have to make decisions about crucial development matters within as little as 10 days or risk losing their decision making powers. The latest broadside against local governments across the state comes as the O’Farrell […]

16 April, 2013

Lake Macquarie Council gives builders online option

By Lilia Guan Lake Macquarie City Council is offering builders access to an online service for booking building inspections.   The council’s manager development assessment and compliance, Steve Brown said builders only had the option of telephoning Council to book inspections, before the new online service was introduced.   “Council initiated the online inspection booking […]

13 June, 2012

Ku-ring-gai demands planning and development action

Ku-ring-gai Council has written to State Coalition leader Barry O’Farrell and other political leaders seeking swift action on a range of planning and development issues following the March 26 election.   Mayor Ian Cross said the letter requested; the winding up of the Ku-ring-gai Planning Panel; the scrapping of the Part 3A State Significant development […]

16 March, 2011

Burke and Crean take on future planning

By Angela Dorizas Councils and developers have welcomed the appointment of Simon Crean and Tony Burke to the two portfolios critical to future planning. Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced over the weekend that Simon Crean would become Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, while the Minister for Sustainable Population Growth, Tony Burke, […]

14 September, 2010

NSW Government increases council development levies

Councils in New South Wales have welcomed the State Government’s decision to amend its proposed policy on development contributions. Planning Minister Tony Kelly announced on Tuesday that a number of new measures would be introduced following consultations with key stakeholders. The development contributions cap will remain at $20,000 for established areas, but in greenfield sites […]

31 August, 2010

Local leaders to chair Victorian regional development committees

By Staff Writer The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments have appointed 83 regional and rural Victorians to serve on the state’s nine Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees. The community leaders will play a key role in determining the future growth and development of their towns. Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Maxine McKew, and […]

16 October, 2009

Fraser Coast soothes the growing pains

“Where we thought there would be a slowdown, it just hasn’t happened.” Mayor of Fraser Coast Regional Council, Mick Kruger. Image: Peter Lik, Tourism Queensland. By Jo Cooper As the economic downturn slows development across the nation, Queensland’s Fraser Coast – which includes the cities of Hervey Bay and Maryborough – appears to be bucking […]

4 June, 2009

Negative gearing driving ‘unsustainable development’

Coastal housing development is “hopelessly unsustainable”. Image: iStock. By Rachel Borchardt Stripping investors of their tax breaks could be the solution to unsustainable development, according to a coastal sustainability advocate. Speaking at the Queensland Coastal Conference 2009, Mike Berwick, Queensland’s representative on the National NRM Working Group and former mayor of Douglas Shire, said housing […]

20 May, 2009

MAV slams state for reneging on planning permits

By Rob O’Brien The Municipal Association of Victoria has accused the State Government of breaching an agreement made with local government over planning permit requirements for social housing and school building projects funded by the Rudd Government.   The Victorian Premier’s office did advise the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) in April that it would consult with […]

1 January, 1970