Pittwater Life April 2017 Issue

EXCLUSIVE
Planning destiny: in
News
Decision-making on future
planning and development
in Pittwater will be
handed outright to local councillors
elected to represent our
area under a landmark decision
by the NSW Government.
The move is a huge boost for
local communities and also residents
groups concerned about
a flurry of ongoing over-development
– including six-storey
buildings in Mona Vale – that
they feared would transform the
region following the amalgamation
of Manly, Warringah and
Pittwater Councils last May.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian
confirmed councillors elected
to the Pittwater and Narrabeen
wards in the Northern Beaches
Council elections in September
would have the ultimate say
in planning laws across their
boundaries following a cabinet
decision in early March.
The ‘destiny in your hands’
approach to devolve strategic
planning to individual wards
will ensure no input or decisions
are made on Pittwater
planning from councillors in
wards external to Pittwater.
The same principle will apply
for elected councillors and
wards in other amalgamated
councils across New South
Wales.
The new Northern Beaches
Council comprises five wards;
each will have three elected
councillors.
The Local Environment Plans
(LEPs) currently in place for
Manly, Warringah and Pittwater
will remain until after
the Council election, when
the 15 councillors will develop
the new LEP for the Northern
Beaches Council.
This will be done with input
ward by ward, not collectively;
consequently it is possible the
LEP could comprise up to five
sets of strategic planning laws.
The three councillors elected
to represent Pittwater ward
in the September election will
determine planning matters in
Mona Vale, Duffys Forest and all
suburbs north to Palm Beach.
Councillors elected to
represent Narrabeen ward will
determine planning matters in
Warriewood, Ingleside and Terrey
Hills and all suburbs south
to Oxford Falls and Collaroy.
The new powers will be set
in stone by an amendment
to the Environmental Planning
& Assessment Act (1979),
expected to be implemented
prior to the Council election.
This would provide candidates
with a solid platform
to run their campaigns and
ensure transparency for voters.
Announcing the change, Premier
Berejiklian said: “We have
listened to concerns about local
character in Sydney and will
continue to ensure individual
wards of merged councils will
have a say in strategic planning
processes so that local
residents get an even stronger
say in the planning of their
neighbourhoods.”
Pittwater MP Rob Stokes
confirmed elected local ward
councillors would have control
of making decisions about land
use, zoning and strategic plans.
“This means that decisions
about which areas will be zoned
for lower and higher density
development will be made by
local representatives, and not
by councillors representing
other parts of the northern
beaches,” Mr Stokes said.
He explained the change was
based on a ‘localism approach’
implemented in the UK.
“This will focus local control
over neighbourhood character
– which has been raised
with me as one of the central
concerns with council amalgamation,”
he said.
“No-one has concerns about
who collects the rubbish, or
who looks after the sports
grounds. However, there is a
general concern that each part
of the Northern Beaches has
a character that needs to be
protected and enhanced.
“This reform reflects that the
NSW Government has listened
to concerns about local planning
and it provides direct
14 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years