WHAT!! Under brand new emergency legislation the NSW Planning Minister can now "Authorise development to be carried out on land without the need for any approval under the Act or consent from any person" and this "order has effect DESPITE ANY environmental planning instrument or development consent"
The group Better Planning Network ask "WHAT COUNTRY ARE WE LIVING IN? "Why is the NSW government throwing out democratic oversight of planning matters? Not only has the government given unprecedented powers to police, we now find out that the NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has been granted almost unfettered powers under the newly approved COVID-19 Legislation Amendment Bill. For up to 12 months!!" You the community cannot meet to protest You the community cannot meet to gather signatures You the community cannot meet with your elected representatives YOU THE COMMUNITY DO HAVE ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAILS AND PHONES If you don't want Minister Stokes having virtual carte blanche over the next 12 months to give a tick of approval to developments like mega-casinos in Pyrmont, towering apartments along every public transport route, vast rezoning, expanding "Connex's", more coal mines, coal seam gas drilling galore, unstoppable urban sprawl, densification of our residential suburbs, increased building heights, destruction of our heritage, trashing of our environmental protections and a Sydney that will be unrecognisable within a few years THEN IT'S UP TO EVERY ONE OF US TO HELP STOP THIS Share. Write. Phone. SAY THAT YOU OBJECT TO THE MINISTER'S NEW BROADSCALE PLANNING POWERS. It does not help the community, the residents or the economy only the developers Premier Gladys Berejiklian (02) 8574 5000 https://www.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/contact-the-premier Planning Minister Rob Stokes (02) 8574 6707 https://www.nsw.gov.au/…/minister-for-planning-and-public-s… Treasurer Dominic Perrottet (02) 8574 6900 https://www.nsw.gov.au/your-government/ministers/treasurer Leader of the Opposition Jodi McKay (02) 9747 1771 strathfield@parliament.nsw.gov.au Shadow Minister for Planning Adam Searle (02) 9230 2160 adam.searle@parliament.nsw.gov.au Greens Spokesperson for Planning Jamie Parker (02) 9230 2803 balmain@parliament.nsw.gov.au Write to your local Liberal councillors too and your local state members and tell them you want these powers removed from the Planning Minister. They can put off Council elections for a year but not forever
