Village Voice News - Community - Bill to overhaul planning laws

Planning Minister Frank Sartor has announced a draft bill, flagging the biggest changes to planning laws since the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act of 1979.

The changes would reduce council powers over a range of developments by introducing planning assessment panels for projects worth more than $50 million and increasing the role of private building certifiers to approve small-scale building works.

The changes also tightly restrict the way councils can spend developer levies.

Courier reporter Michael Rogers visited Mr Sartor's electoral office last week to hand over copies of the Cumberland/Courier Newspapers group's coverage of the issue and letters from the community.

Some 538 submissions flowed to the minister's office before the release of the exposure bill, with mixed responses and concern from local government and general support from property developers.

Few changes were made to the proposed bill as a result of community feedback.

One concession made was to give residents the right of appeal to a Regional Planning Panel if a council approves a development exceeding planning controls by 25 per cent - a move described by Mr Sartor as an "anti-corruption" measure.