NSW bushfires: Green tape, planning fees delaying rebuilding to be scrapped
Frustrated victims of last summer’s bushfires who have run into green tape and fees while trying to rebuild will be helped by laws expected to pass parliament soon. SEE THE CHANGES
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
New laws to scrap green tape and expensive planning fees for bushfire victims wanting to rebuild on their own land are expected to be drafted within weeks.
The government will throw the lifeline to bushfire affected communities after The Daily Telegraph exposed how victims such as Denis and Bev Wallis were being slapped with fees — some up to $10,000 — for koala checks and biodiversity assessments on their scorched land.
After this paper revealed the problem on Friday, representatives of the government’s Planning, Industry and Environment department met the Eurobodalla Council, signalling an intention to create exemptions for bushfire victims trying to rebuild on their own property.
The council says it first asked for the exemption in January.
MORE NEWS
COVID up close: ‘Someone is coughing up blood clots’
Distracted by COVID, we forgot about bushfire victims
Barilaro slams bureaucratic green tape torturing bushfire victims
Environment Minister Matt Kean has stepped in to drive the solution and is examining a postcode-based scheme to turn off onerous biodiversity requirements for victims.
“I intend to change the law so that people rebuilding do not need to pay for biodiversity offsets or comply with unnecessary red tape,” Mr Kean said on Wednesday. “These people have been through enough, the last thing we need to do is to put barriers in the way of people getting back on their feet after the bushfires.”
It is understood the government is also planning to send more bureaucrats to affected areas to assist with the logistics on the ground.
The biggest hurdle the government faces is how to legally make the change happen quickly.
While some elements can be tackled by regulation, others require legislation, a senior source said.
Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes said she was uplifted by the quick response after her long public campaigning.
“(Government) staff have agreed to continue engaging with council in preparing a solution and we expect the opportunity to review draft legislation shortly,” she said.
The council estimates there are 277 property owners who have to undertake expensive assessments under the Biodiversity Conservation Act before they can rebuild.
Nine councils have been calling for the biodiversity legislation to be switched off for fire affected communities, writing a joint letter in May.
“The government needs to ensure this … occurs sooner rather than later – it’s commonsense and those trying to rebuild their lives have waited long enough,” Mayor Innes said.