Planning Reform Groundswell: 104 Groups Reject Sartor's Changes
Thursday, 03 April 2008 20:13
The letter also tells The Premier that changes to the NSW Planning System, proposed by Planning Minister Sartor, will only serve to further alienate the community from the process.
"There is a growing sentiment among the general community that the NSW Government is going too far and the Premier would do well to listen to these concerns," said TEC Director Jeff Angel.
"Since the introduction of Part 3A into the EP&A Act, the balance has shifted from an Act that guarantees public participation and environmental assessment to one that hands developers more exemptions and less accountability.
"The planned reforms will only see an increase in the number of loopholes developers can jump through to avoid scrutiny. They also open the door for unhealthy relationships to form between developers and private certifiers".
"What is required is an EP&A Act with strong principles of ecologically sustainable
development, contains genuine environmental assessment provisions and reinstates genuine public participation."
To read the letter click here [PDF 153Kb].
Groups Involved:
ADI Residents Action Group, Angels Beach Dunecare & Reafforestation Group Inc., Angourie
Residents and Ratepayers Association, Australian Conservation Foundation (Central Coast
Branch), Australian Conservation Foundation (Shoalhaven Branch), Ballina Environment Society Inc., Bega Environment Network, Bellingen Environment Centre, Blue Mountains Conservation Society, Bonny Hills Progress Association, Broadwater Community Dunecare, Bypass Action Network (Coffs Harbour), Byron Environmental and Conservation Organisation, Camden Haven Protection Society Inc., Castlecrag Conservation Society Inc., CEN Lake Macquarie Planning Committee, Central West Environment Council, Clarence Environment Centre, Colong Foundation for Wilderness, Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association of NSW Inc. (Port Macquarie Branch), Community Environment Network Inc., Conservation Ecologists Association, Conservation of North Ocean Shores
Coastwatchers Association Inc., East Ballina Landcare Inc., EcoNetwork-Port Stephens Inc., Eurobodalla Greens, Evans Head & District Water Committee Inc., Evans Head Aerodrome Committee Inc., Evans Head Ratepayers and Residents Association Inc., F.A.W.N.A. (NSW) Inc. - Mid North Coast Region, Forresters Bushrangers, Friends of Currawong, Friends of Tumblebee, Gerroa Environment Protection Society, Great Lakes Environment Association, Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Foundation, Hawks Nest-Tea Gardens Progress Association, Healthy Cities Illawarra Inc., Humane Society International, Hunter Community Environment Centre, Hunter Environment Lobby, Illawarra Community and Environment Connection, Illawarra Escarpment Coalition, Illawarra Greens, Illawarra Residents Against Toxic Environments, Jervis Bay Regional Alliance, Jetty Action Group, Lake Macquarie Coastal & Wetlands Alliance, Lake Wollumboola Protection Association Inc., Lakes Community Precinct Committee (Wyong Shire), LennnoxCare, Maitland Greens, Mittagong Environment Alliance, Morisset Peninsula Precinct Committee, Mudgee District Environment Group, Myall Koala and Environmental Support Group Inc., Nambucca Valley Conservation Association
National Parks Association (Far North Coast), National Parks Association of NSW, National Toxic Network Inc., Native Animal Trust Fund Wildlife Rescue (Hunter Region), Nature Conservation Council of NSW, No Tillegra Dam Group Inc., North Coast Environment Council, North Coast Voices, North East Forest Alliance (Hunter Region), Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group, NSW Wildlife Council Inc., Parks & Playgrounds Movement Inc., Peninsula Dunecare, Pindimar-Bundabah Community Association, Port Macquarie Conservation Society, Residents Action Network, Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA, Residents of Kincumber Association Inc., Rising Tide (Australia), River Canoe Club of NSW, Ryde Hunters Hill Flora & Fauna Preservation Society Inc., Sandy Hearnes Action Group, Save Water Alliance Inc., Scotts Head Protection Group, Smiths Lake Village Association, South East Region Conservation Alliance, Stanwell Tops Residents Awareness Association, STEP Inc.,
Surfrider Foundation Australia, Sustainable Communities Research, Swan Lake Environment
Protection Association, Terania Native Forests Action Group, Terrigal Area Residents
Association Inc., Terrigal Lagoon Bushcare Group, The Manning Group, Total Environment Centre, Tweed Landcare Inc., Ulitarra Conservation Society, United Residents Group for the Environment of Lake Macquarie, Valley Watch, Vincentia Ratepayers & Residents Association, Wadalba Association, Western Sydney Conservation Alliance Inc., Whale Call Inc., Willoughby Environmental Protection Association Inc., Wyong Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association, Wyong Terrestrial Orchid Research.
