THE TWEED SHIRE Volume 1 #38 CHECK OUT THE Thursday, May 28, 2009 Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 SERVICE Fax: (02) 6672 4933 [email protected] DIRECTORY [email protected] PAGES 21-22 www.tweedecho.com.au LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Councillors fear state planning panels Ken Sapwell cerns and would be supporting a protest vote ‘The panels will have three state govern- Cr Miller says the decision to establish only against the changes when he attended the Lo- ment appointed members, including the chair- five JRPPs for the metropolitan and coastal cal Government Association’s annual confer- person, and only two appointed by the local regions will affect community input into lo- Tweed Shire councillors on both sides of the ence next week with Cr Polglase and Mayor council where the development is located, cal decisions. fence have joined a growing chorus of protest Joan van Lieshout. meaning residents have a minority voice in ‘Communities in regional areas will be forced against the government’s controversial decision Association president Genia McCaffery says the decisions. to travel long distances to attend the Panel meet- to transfer their planning powers to a govern- the panels will leave residents out of major ‘Councils do a great job administering a ings while the 43 local councils west of the di- ment-controlled panel next month. planning decisions and are likely to make the complex DA process and understanding local vide will have no say about large developments Deputy Mayor Barry Longland and former planning system more costly, time consuming concerns, and so should have the final say on in their area. mayor Warren Polglase say the radical change and confusing. developments in their local areas.’ ‘This goes against what local government will sideline councillors from the decision-mak- ‘It’s difficult to see what benefits these panels President of the Shires Association, Cr Bruce stands for, so we simply can’t support it. ing process involving large and controversial will bring to the development process. Miller, says JRPPs will make the planning proc- ‘We urge the Minister to reconsider the need developments and put it in the hands of un- ‘The panels will cost an extra $3.5million per ess more time consuming. to introduce JRPPs, and keep local planning elected representatives. year in sitting fees and travel expenses alone – ‘Also, transparency is undermined because controls where they belong – in the hands of Planning Minister Kristina Kenneally has which will have to come from already-stretched panel members will be open to political pres- local councils and their communities,’ he said. given the council less than two weeks to find council budgets, or added to development ap- sure, just like local councillors, but without the two suitable people to appoint to one of the plication fees. need to front up at election time. ■ See Editorial, page 6 government’s so-called Joint Regional Planning Panels (JRPPs) that will be dominated by three government appointed members. The council was told last Friday it has until next Tuesday (June 2) to seek nominations from commu- nity members whose skills meet wide-ranging guidelines so two can be chosen by councillors at a special meeting two days later. As a result, Tweed Shire Council yesterday (Wednesday) announced that an extraordi- nary meeting would be held next Thursday, June 4, at 4.30pm to consider the makeup of the local panel. The local appointees will serve on a five-per- son panel which will make recommendations to Ms Kenneally about infrastructure and ‘eco- tourist’ projects worth more than $5 million and residential and commercial development worth Breaking the boredom more than $10 million. Chief planner Vince Connell said the council of a rain-soaked week, was now calling for people ‘with appropriate Murwillumbah girl Shelby expertise to determine development proposals Gilbert, 12, ventured out of regional significance’ to nominate to serve last Thursday to explore terms of up to three years in a paid position on familiar ground, albeit the panel. Cr Polglase says the panels will undermine underneath her kayak, the council’s role, with appointees unac- after torrential rain in- countable to the electorate deciding the fu- undated parts of Mur- ture of the shire. willumbah and the town’s ‘People objecting to the Repco rally should be historic showground. turning their attention to the government be- cause it may well be making the decision under Water, water everywhere… Photo Luis Feliu this new arrangement,’ he said. Cr Longland said he shared similar con- over $330 WITH ONELIFE’S 5TH BIRTHDAY OFFER $12.50* PER WEEK - 100 ONLY SO DON’T MISS OUT *Terms & Conditions Apply Onelife Health & Fitness Tweed Heads - Shops 8-9 ‘Homemart on the Tweed’, Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads Sth NSW 2486 Phone: 07 5523 3438 or go online at www.onelifehealthclubs.com.au Local News Noticeboard stall will start at 9am and lunch cent) at 6pm. Meet others with will be served from noon till Lupus (SLE) and Sjogren’s in an Cycling skills 1.30pm. Donations of cash, informal and social atmosphere. Polglase backs Cudgen rezoning Tweed Shire Council in conjunc- produce, cakes, pickles and Some information on hand Ken Sapwell ment with then sitting coun- it was up to the council, or tion with Austcycle Training jams, craft work or any saleable from the Lupus Association. cillor Lynne Beck and her more likely, the state gov- offers training in cycling skills. goods gratefully accepted and Contact Kelly on 02 6676 2646 Free courses for two-to-three Former Mayor Warren two sisters, promising to pay ernment, to decide. may be left at the post office or or email [email protected] hours in the mornings in Polglase has taken up the them an extra $5 million if His motion seeks to remove with Joy Armour, or brought in for more information. Kingscliff on Monday, June 1 cudgels for a developer plan- the land is rezoned before farmland protection from the on the day. U3A (to register call Liz on 02 6674 ning a second shot at rezon- November this year. Cudgen land and rezone it for Walking group Tweed Coast U3A next forum at 9515), Pottsville on Wednesday, ing prime agricultural land However, the deal failed ‘mixed residential, commer- Murwillumbah On The Move 2pm on Friday, June 5, at King- June 3 (call Pam 02 6676 4555), at Cudgen for a supermar- to come to fruition and the cial, community and emer- walking group meets at scliff Uniting Church Hall. Guest Murwillumbah, Thursday, June ket, up to 200 homes and a mortgage documents were gency use’. information centre carpark speaker is Trudy Collins from 4 (call Dianne on 02 6670 2783), the Far North Coast Respite and fire station. discharged last January. He said other projects and Banora Point, Friday, June 5 at 7.20 am (winter start time In a notice of motion to The company’s first rezon- which landowners wanted from June 3), Wednesdays and Carelink Centre. Advice sheets (call Michael on 07 5587 9013. will be handed out with info on be considered at tonight’s ing bid came unstuck when included in the council’s LEP Bring your own bike. Saturdays. Enjoyable walks (May 28) council meeting, the council was sacked in dis- review were a push by Gales around town. Everyone wel- how to access assistance avail- Learn computers Cr Polglase asks staff to pre- grace in 2005 before it could Holdings for a town centre at come. Phone (02) 6672 1660. able for older people and carers. Computer Association Tweed pare a report ‘on the process consider the application, with Chinderah, Boyds Bay Gar- Family Centre Afternoon tea, donation $2. Seniors meets at 10.30am on required to allow land owned the administrators subse- den World’s bid to rezone its The Family Centre is taking Food giveaway the third Wednesday of each quently appointed to run the site for industrial and bulky bookings now for courses Bread giveaway now being by the Kingscliff Land Com- month at Seagulls. Learn com- held outside the iBar near the running at Tweed Heads South. pany [KLC] to be developed.’ council rejecting it outright. goods and Heritage Pacific’s puter skills from other seniors. traffic lights, under the canopy. Book early on (07) 5524 8711. The company, which has The land, which once grew plans for a mixed retail, in- Joining days are on the second Grocery donations needed. Call ‘DadSkills’ fortnightly sessions not yet lodged a new rezon- small crops and has sweep- dustrial, commercial and Thursday of each month. Call Terri on 0414 376057. for fathers, join anytime, Tues- ing application, attracted na- ing ocean views and frontage residential development west June 02 6676 3131 (Mon-Fri Healthy habits days fortnightly, next sessions tional media attention when to Cudgen Creek, has been of Pottsville. 9-5). All Welcome. Healthy Habits workshop, June 2, 16, 30 5pm-7.30pm. it paid $4.5 million for the classified by the State gov- No one from KLC, which Family history Cabarita Beach, Sunday, June Tweed Family History and Herit- ‘ParentSpace: birth to three land in a joint venture deal ernment as farmland of state comprises a group of inves- 7, 10am. These workshops are with supermarket giant Coles significance under the North tors including Melbourne- age Association will hold its years’ Wednesdays fortnightly free and designed to give peo- Myer in November 2004. Coast regional plan. based WRF Securities, could monthly meeting Tuesday, June 10am-11.30am, next session ple the tools of self healing and 2, in Sth Tweed Sports Club, May 27.