State Government rejects Draft LEP & DCP

Sometime during December 2005 the State Government returned the draft Rural Plan to the council, without the necessary section 65 certificate that would have permitted it to be placed on public exhibition. In itself, this is a good outcome for landholders affected by the proposals in the draft Plan, however the government's intentions as revealed in the Metropolitan Strategy are not encouraging.

Some details of the State Government's position are contained in a letter provided by the Council in response to a question. It says:

"It is important to note that it appears the non issue of the Section 65 certificate to exhibit is not an indication that the Department is opposed to Council's direction, it is more the process of delivery and timing in view of the LEP reform and the evolution of the Metropolitan Strategy. The Department will provide Council with further correspondence on the Rural Lands Strategy suggesting a way forward."

This removes landholders and those directly affected one step further away from the decision-making process. It does not respect the democratic process or ownership rights.

Further indication of the Government's intentions are apparent in the Metropolitan Strategy.

• Page 8: "Contain Sydney’s urban footprint"
• Page 134: "Provide 60–70 per cent of new housing in existing urban areas"
• Page 224: “...criteria for any future land release will be strengthened and new urban development outside of areas listed on the Government’s land release program tightly restricted."
• Page 261: "...land [outside the growth centres] will be maintained in its current land use for rural activities and resource production..."

It is clear that the Government is continuing down the path of urban consolidation - higher density, more congestion, loss of privacy, and overloaded infrastructure. This is the opposite of what most people want.

Permitting landholders in the urban fringe to subdivide their large holdings into 5 acre lots is a sensible solution that would provide greater choice, help keep prices affordable, and respect the ownership rights of landholders.