A new NSW Government Rezoning Pathways Program has Local Government NSW up in arms.

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) say that property developers have been gifted an early Christmas present after the NSW Government announced it would sideline councils and communities from assessing new major housing developments.

Under the Rezoning Pathways Program, developers can nominate rezoning proposals for more than 1,000 dwellings on sites in metropolitan NSW and at least 300 dwellings in regional NSW. These proposals would bypass councils and instead be assessed by the state’s planning department.

This could affect subdivisions like the North Lismore Plateau by taking it out of the hands of council because the project is 742 residential lots over a staged development.

LGNSW said despite the major implications of the scheme, the NSW Government has failed to detail how local provisions will be considered when these residential developments are assessed and what community consultation, if any, will occur.

LGNSW President Darriea Turley AM said the new program was the latest example of the NSW Government cosying up to property developers at the expense of councils and the communities they represent. 

“The changes that are being proposed here would affect every council area in the state. It also brings into question what, if any, consideration will be given to existing local plans and policies when major housing developments are being assessed," Cr Turley said.

“By removing council input and community consultation on these major developments, the government is essentially removing the safeguards that protect communities from inappropriate and ad hoc development.”

Cr Turley questioned whether the NSW Government was being genuine when it badged the new program as a way of unlocking new homes faster.

“This government is quick to blame delays on councils. Yet it is well established that the overwhelming cause of delays stem from infrastructure delivery issues and other hold-ups from a multitude of government agencies,” Cr Turley said.

“A few years ago, the NSW Government took development application powers off Sydney councils and introduced mandatory local planning panels. The argument was that councillors should focus on strategic planning rather than on individual development applications.

“Now with this latest announcement, the government is coming after the strategic planning as well.

“Councils are best placed to make planning decisions in the interests of their community. Sidelining our sector from this critical role will only benefit developers and further degrades the community from having any say about what developments occur in their areas.”

The Lismore App contacted two Lismore City Councillors for their views.

Councillor Andrew Gordon warmly welcomed the State Government's decision saying, "It was 1998 the last time we sold 300 dwellings in a development."

"Yes, I think that's a windfall for any regional city. Unfortunately, those that have an alternate opinion to growth are probably needed to be removed from the decision-making. It's about time a business approach was established in the management of growth rather than relying on the idealists that see growth as interfering with their utopia."

Councillor Adam Guise said, "The government's announcement of the Rezoning Pathways program appears to be a brainfart proposal in the leadup to an election to make them look like they're doing something after a decade of inaction.

"It's an indictment of a broken planning system that the government plans to fast track rezonings outside the normal processes, risking more environmental destruction and exclusion of the community. 

"We don't need more inappropriate development or housing not fit for purpose. What we need is a wholesale reform of the planning system that puts people and climate first. 

"Any rezonings should prioritise the provision of affordable land to disaster impacted residents to keep our community together. "