Vital Information Missing
Date: 11-Oct-10
Author: Chris Parker
Key components of for NSWs biggest residential development, Huntlee, have not been placed on public exhibition leaving the community at a disadvantage says Chris Parker, President of the Sweet Water Action Group.
In October 2009 the Sweet Water Action Group was successful in having the States largest housing development fall over in the Land and Environment Court. The developmen,t about which the Court decided it was reasonable to believe the Minister was biased and therefore did not make a fair decision, is back before the public.
We do not believe this development is different in any substantial way that the previous application. Instead of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister the developer is now saying a Voluntary Planning Agreement will outline the offsets. said Mr Parker.
However the Voluntary Planning Agreement has not been placed on public exhibition and we cant see any of the details. said Mr Parker.
This is not fair. said Mr Parker At 7,500 houses this is the biggest residential development in NSW. The public deserve a better standard than being kept in the dark.
This is a highly controversial with the developer trying to swap mostly mountain country which is not endangered in return for clearing 600ha of highly endangered bushland which cant be replaced, this is like swapping handful of diamonds for a bucket of marbles.
And they havent even placed the details on the website so we can see exactly what is proposed. said Mr Parker.
We are calling on the Minister for Planning to give a commitment to extend the exhibition period for the whole State Significant Site proposal by at least a further 4 weeks so the community has enough time to see these Voluntary Planning documents and respond in our main submission.
Everything about this process is weighted against the community. said Mr Parker We are just trying to have a fair dinkum say on behalf of the local community, we are not wealthy business people, and the least the Minister could do is make sure we can actually see these documents and have a chance to respond properly.
Chris Parker
0434 332217
