WED 17 SEP 2014
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Yes, to better planning Candidates meet to discuss new charter calling for greater transparency AMELIA PARROTT
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andidates running for the seat of Newcastle in next month’s by-election met in Hamilton last week to endorse a charter aimed at overhauling the state’s planning process. Authored by the Better Planning Network, a coalition of community groups from across NSW, the document calls for the public to have a greater say in the planning process and for greater accountability and transparency in the approval process. Independent candidates, Tony Brown and Brian Clair both endorsed the charter, as did Christian Democrats candidate, Milton Caine, Labor candidate, Tim Crakanthorp, Socialist Alliance candidate, Stephen O’Brien and Greens candidate, Michael Osborne. Independents Jacqueline Haines and Karen Howard chose not to endorse the charter. Ms Haines said the charter was unrealistic and too emotive, while Ms Howard said the document was too broad. Both supported the UrbanGrowth NSW/GPT high-rise development in the city’s East End. Mr Crakanthorp said he has called for an independent probity review of the controversial project. “You’ve got the developer, who is the Government, and you’ve got the consent authority, that’s also the Government,� he said. “It’s like putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank.� Mr Brown said the charter was secondary to the
Independent candidate for Newcastle, Tony Brown addresses the audience at last week’s planning debate in Hamilton corruption involving Newcastle that had been aired in the recent Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into illegal political donations. “We’ve just seen the most serious level of corruption in the state’s history and make no mistake, the epicentre of it is Newcastle,� he said. “We must get back to our basics. “It must be government by the people and for
the people, not by the developers and for the developers.� Better Planning Network convenor, Corinne Fisher said by endorsing the charter, individual candidates and members of the public could help pressure the Government into reviewing the state’s planning laws. The charter can be viewed and signed online at www.thecommunitycharter.org.
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