Labor’s Minister for Planning and Public Spaces continues to show a lack of understanding when it comes to the impact on heritage of his own ‘biggest rezoning in Australia’s history’, attempting to outline the ‘truth about planning reforms and heritage’ the Minister has shown that he either lacks understanding of his own policy or is deliberately misleading people across NSW.
“It’s time for a few home truths for Minister Scully when it comes to the impact of his ‘biggest rezoning in Australia’s history’ on heritage across New South Wales,” Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Scott Farlow said.
“Minister Scully today claimed that ‘the reforms do not apply to individual heritage items’, which has been roundly rebuked by his own officials.”
“Following questioning in Budget Estimates the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure confirmed that the Labor Government’s one-size-fits-all Low and Mid-Rise Reforms will apply to both Heritage Conservation Areas and heritage listings.”
The following extract is from the Hansard:
MONICA GIBSON: The low- and mid-rise reforms do apply to heritage conservation areas and heritage listings.
The Hon. SCOTT FARLOW: It applies to heritage listings as well?
MONICA GIBSON: It does.
“The Labor Government’s own Heritage Council ‘strongly recommend[s] the government enable local councils to undertake strategic planning within a defined time frame to deliver housing targets before activating the proposed new planning controls over existing heritage conservation areas.’”
“The National Trust is concerned the proposals ‘will have a dramatic and permanent effect on heritage’ and calls ‘the current one-size-fits-all housing reforms put forward by the NSW Government … the biggest threat to the heritage of NSW that have ever been proposed.’”
“Minister Scully seems confused about the impact of Labor’s lazy, one-size-fits-all policies on yet another area – heritage. It’s clear that Chris Minns’ approach simply isn’t working,” Mr Farlow said.
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