NSW Parliament
Your local Member is The Hon. Rob Stokes MP represents Pittwater including Bayview.
Rob, previously Minister for the Planning, is now Minister for Education. His elevation to this important portfolio, whilst applauded in many respects, is but loss to the wider Pittwater community in the matter of the environment and ecology
The Liberals’ one-size-fits-all approach to planning the growth of our city must take into account the unique character of areas like Bayview. We need a planning system that allows these unique areas to flourish with appropriate development without being lost in a sea of high rise apartments.
Rob Stokes & The Premier have promised $100 million over the next 4 years to fund the projects to "protect" the Threatened Species of NSW.
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Your local Member is The Hon. Rob Stokes MP represents Pittwater including Bayview.
Rob, previously Minister for the Planning, is now Minister for Education. His elevation to this important portfolio, whilst applauded in many respects, is but loss to the wider Pittwater community in the matter of the environment and ecology
The Liberals’ one-size-fits-all approach to planning the growth of our city must take into account the unique character of areas like Bayview. We need a planning system that allows these unique areas to flourish with appropriate development without being lost in a sea of high rise apartments.
Rob Stokes & The Premier have promised $100 million over the next 4 years to fund the projects to "protect" the Threatened Species of NSW.
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Northern Beaches Council has replaced Pittwater Council
Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering how the new Northern Beaches Council will affect you?
Newly appointed CEO Ray Brownlee
GM Planning, Place and Community & Deputy CEO - David Kerr
Wards and Councillor representation - Five Council Wards with three Councillors for each Ward
Last Council Elections - 9 September 2017
Is my parking sticker valid across the Northern Beaches?
Previous stickers are only valid in the previous locations. A proposal for reciprocal parking permits will be brought to the Administrator as soon as possible. Residents can now park at 40 carparks Palm Beach to Manly ( 4 hours at Manly)
Can I pay my rates at any former Council shop front?
Rates should be paid online at the Council website listed on your rates notice or by any of the payment methods listed on your existing rates notice such as BPay or phone. You can also if you wish pay your rates at any of the customer service/planning counters in Avalon, Dee Why, Manly and Mona Vale.
Will my rates go up?
The NSW Government's rate protection commitment means residents of the new Council will pay no more for their rates than they would have under their old Council for the next four years.
What is the new Council website?
northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
Will there be public Council Meetings and where will they be held?
Council Meetings will be open to the public. More information will be available on the website.
How can I participate?
Community engagement will play a key role in the new Council and a range of channels will be used to provide further detail.
More details will be shown as we receive news & action by the new Council.
Many thanks to the past Pittwater Councillors for their work over the years keeping Pittwater the beautiful paradise we have all come to enjoy. We look forward to working with all the new Councillors.
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WHAT ARE THESE QUIRKY SITE COMPATIBILITY CERTIFICATES (SCCs)?
Introduced in April 2009 under the infrastructure of SEPP, the SCC mechanism was heralded as
?? - 'AN ADDITIONAL PLANNING SAFEGUARD' - ??
WE THINK NOT !!
Site compatibility certificates (SCCs) have been introduced as a “so-called” safeguard in NSW State environmental planning policies.
SCCs ensure some development proposals are broadly compatible with surrounding land uses, before they proceed to the lodgement, assessment and determination stage.
The Department of Planning & Environment oversees the issuing of Site Compatibility Certificates.
There is no provision for direct public input or comment.
There is NO APPEALS PROCESS against an SCC decision
It should be noted that the issuing of a SCC does not mean the development has been approved by the Department – it is only the first step in the assessment process as in our present circumstance.
Delegation to a Consent Authority depends on the cost of the development, or can be:
a local council,
a Regional Planning Panel
which must approve a proposed development before it can proceed.
This gives the council the first opportunity to undertake full community consultation on these proposals, not before it originated, and far too late for many reasons.
It is unfortunate that the community consultation doesn’t start when the application for a Site Compatibility Certificate is lodged.
The community cannot comment or object to a SCC application despite it affecting them or their community .
Freedom of Information applications for any details on SCC’s are often rejected or refused .
Pending determinations are not made public, nor are the dates, so you may never know -but the developer will !!!
A totally Non-Transparent approval process !!
How can the public have the reassurance that all factors have been taken into account if the SCC application details are not made public in the first place? Was this the recent problem with developments on Central Coast to Newcastle??
Introduced in April 2009 under the infrastructure of SEPP, the SCC mechanism was heralded as
?? - 'AN ADDITIONAL PLANNING SAFEGUARD' - ??
WE THINK NOT !!
Site compatibility certificates (SCCs) have been introduced as a “so-called” safeguard in NSW State environmental planning policies.
SCCs ensure some development proposals are broadly compatible with surrounding land uses, before they proceed to the lodgement, assessment and determination stage.
The Department of Planning & Environment oversees the issuing of Site Compatibility Certificates.
There is no provision for direct public input or comment.
There is NO APPEALS PROCESS against an SCC decision
It should be noted that the issuing of a SCC does not mean the development has been approved by the Department – it is only the first step in the assessment process as in our present circumstance.
Delegation to a Consent Authority depends on the cost of the development, or can be:
a local council,
a Regional Planning Panel
which must approve a proposed development before it can proceed.
This gives the council the first opportunity to undertake full community consultation on these proposals, not before it originated, and far too late for many reasons.
It is unfortunate that the community consultation doesn’t start when the application for a Site Compatibility Certificate is lodged.
The community cannot comment or object to a SCC application despite it affecting them or their community .
Freedom of Information applications for any details on SCC’s are often rejected or refused .
Pending determinations are not made public, nor are the dates, so you may never know -but the developer will !!!
A totally Non-Transparent approval process !!
How can the public have the reassurance that all factors have been taken into account if the SCC application details are not made public in the first place? Was this the recent problem with developments on Central Coast to Newcastle??