TAREE COUNCIL'S LOSS OF REZONING POWERS SHOULD END THEIR DEVELOPER-DICTATED PLANNING

Friday, 22 October 2004 10:00

The removal of Taree Council's ability to rezone coastal land until a new plan done with professional State Agency staff is in place should end their tendency to zone according to developer dictates a peak environment group said today.

Total Environment Centre's coastal campaigner Fran Kelly, said instructions given to Taree Council by the NSW Government to cease rezoning until they have worked out a joint integrated plan with the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural resources "could not have come sooner."

"The majority of Taree councillors and the Director of Building and Planning at Taree Council seemed hell-bent on a course of rezoning and developing and undermining sound environmental planning. There have been a litany of complaints as a result," said Ms Kelly.
"The environmental status of the land didn't seem to matter if a landowner wanted to make a killing on it, usually that took precedence," said Ms Kelly

"The council made a mockery of what planning is meant to be about. In the last few years there has been a widespread loss of crucial wildlife corridors, impacts on wetlands and water resources and the spread of expensive housing estates in every direction."

"Planning should be about the future sustainability of an area, looking at the land's capability and suitability, environmental constraints, keeping urban centres and villages separated, infrastructure needs and the ability for natural resources such as water to cope. This was given a back seat in the drive to keep developing," said Ms Kelly.

"Without adequate resources or a healthy natural environment, there is no long term base for a growing population or for the economy. We hope that the outcome of the integrated plan is one that will give this and future generations part of the Mid North Coast to be proud of," said Ms Kelly.

"As one of the worst councils on the Mid North Coast it has deservedly been given these instructions ahead of any other council. It could not have come sooner, but it would be good to see the same occur in other mid north coast council areas with similar problems," said Ms Kelly

For further information contact Fran Kelly or Jeff Angel on 9299 5599/5680
 

For further information

Contact
:
Fran Kelly - coastal campaigner
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5599
Email
:
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:
http://www.tec.org.au/