NBC rejects offer to be the planning authority
Northern Beaches Council has rejected an offer to be the planning authority for the controversial Lizard Rock development. It will instead seek legal advice about a court injunction to stop the development.
Council considered an offer from the Sydney North Planning Panel to be the planning proposal authority (PPA) at an extraordinary meeting on 24 January. The proposal would have meant Council had 42 days to prepare the submission for a Gateway determination.
At the meeting, which lasted over two hours, the majority of councillors were against Council becoming the PPA, arguing the proposed housing development was flawed and preparation of a submission would place an unfair burden on staff.
Mayor Michael Regan said if Council was the PPA, it would have limited ability to amend or seek a review of the application or prevent it from going ahead for Gateway determination.
The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC), which owns the land, put the original proposal to the Sydney North Planning Panel last year. The Sydney panel operates separately to Council.
The panel passed several amendments to the proposal in December, including a cap of 450 dwellings instead of minimum lot size provisions at the proposed site in Morgan Road, Belrose.
Councillors re-iterated their opposition to the development at their meeting, and said the amendments did nothing to allay their initial concerns that the development would destroy pristine bush land.
Councillor Rory Amon said it was ‘obscene’ the proposal was even being considered, given the ‘catastrophic’ fire risk.
“It is putting residents and future residents at risk.”
In addition, Cr Anon said that in a world of increasing development with very little land left, “the idea that we would level 45 football fields is an anathema”.
Cr Amon proposed that Council commence injunction proceedings in the Land and Environment Court to stop the development.
Councillors passed his motion, with the proviso that legal advice be considered before any court action can commence.
By Michelle Giglio