Planning Minister Tony Kelly said projects being funded include the construction of elevated walkways through bushland; a scenic foreshore walk north of Sydney; access steps to a scuba diving location; and an innovative boardwalk over an existing seawall. The funding has been allocated under the Metropolitan Greenspace Program (MGP), an open-space grants program that […]
15 February, 2011
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has called for reform of Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. Part 3A planning laws allow the State Government to override local council decisions on major projects. In its report on the exercise of discretion under Part 3A of the Act, the ICAC recommended that the […]
14 December, 2010
The New South Wales Government has announced the trial of a new online system for complying development applications. Following the signing of an agreement between the Departments of Planning Technology and Administration, 12 councils and 10 private certifiers were selected to pilot the online processing system. Planning Minister Tony Kelly said the Electronic Housing Code […]
27 October, 2010
The New South Wales Government has created an $11.2 million incentive for councils to complete their local environmental plans (LEPs). Minister for Planning Tony Kelly wrote to councils last week inviting them to apply for funding under the $10 million LEP Acceleration Fund. Mr Kelly said the new LEPs would lay the foundations for the […]
5 October, 2010
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
By Rob O'Brien The NSW Government has stripped Cessnock City Council of its planning powers after ongoing concerns to delays in development applications. An independent expert panel has been appointed to undertake the planning functions of the council, the NSW Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, said. The appointment follows a request in May for the council […]
24 August, 2010
The New South Wales Government has released landmark guidelines to assist councils and State agencies plan for the impact of sea level rise. Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, said the NSW Coastal Planning Guideline: Adapting to Sea Level Rise would help councils plan for the 600, 000 new residents expected to move to the state’s […]
20 August, 2010
NSW councils have raised concerns with a proposal announced by the State Government that allows developments in small lots to be approved in 10 days with no consultation. Community feedback is being sought on NSW Government plans to slash approval times for new homes and home extensions on small lots by up to 190 days, […]
6 July, 2010
By Angela Dorizas The New South Wales Government has announced that it will retain rate pegging, with charges to be set by the independent pricing regulator. Rates will be set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), with a cap of $20,000 a lot for council charges on new development (Section 94 contributions). The changes […]
5 June, 2010
By Angela Dorizas The demolition of an historic homestead in inner-west Sydney has raised serious concerns about New South Wales planning legislation. The National Trust has warned that the destruction of the 1913 property in Burwood Heights, known as ‘Tilba’, may well be the tip of the iceberg. National Trust NSW advocacy manager Graham Quint […]
19 April, 2010
By Angela Dorizas A number of councils across New South Wales are failing to list significant heritage items on their Local Environmental Plans (LEP), the National Trust of Australia has said. Department of Planning directives require councils to list heritage items on their LEPs, but at least five councils have failed to list any items […]
15 March, 2010
By Angela Dorizas Western Sydney has been deprived $1.4 billion worth of investment because the NSW Government has refused to give Part 3A status to a number of major projects, a leading industry group has claimed. Through a freedom of information request the Urban Taskforce, representing developers, obtained internal documents showing that the Department of […]
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