COUNCILLORS SLAM PROPOSED WATERING DOWN OF DEVELOPEMENT CONTROLS AT MOOREBANK INTERMODAL

Liverpool City Councillors, Nathan Hagarty and Charishma Kaliyanda, have slammed the State Government’s proposed changes to development controls at the Moorebank Intermodal. Details of the proposed Moorebank Intermodal State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) were recently placed on exhibition for public submissions.

“This is just the latest in a series of measures from the State Liberal Government to water down planning laws. Over the last decade, we’ve had unelected planning panels, flammable cladding, the debacle with landowners at the Aerotropolis and now this.

“Under the cover of COVID, the State Government is once again making it harder for the community to have a say about the kind of development they want in their community,” Councillor Hagarty said.

The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) has stated that the proposed SEPP seeks to ‘streamline’ and provide ‘timely development’ at the precinct through the creation of exempt and complying development.

“If approved, these changes would see a whole host of development at the intermodal handed over to private certifiers for approval. This would effectively remove the opportunity for the community to have a fair hearing, raise objections and flag any compliance issues.

“We’ve seen with the Opal Tower what happens when development is left in the hands of private certifiers,” Councillor Kaliyanda pointed out.

Submissions on the proposed SEPP close 27 September 2021.

“The community and Council have been fighting the Intermodal for years and now the State Liberal Government has decided they are going to try and bypass both.

“It’s vital that the community has a say, so I strongly encourage everyone to make a submission opposing these proposed changes,” said Councillor Hagarty.