NSW Government new laws to allow online public hearings amid COVID-19
The NSW Government has introduced new measures amid fears green groups would attempt to use the COVID-crisis as a means to further delay big projects.
NSW
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Public hearings and meetings to consider major projects like the 1000-job Narrabri gas development will be held online under new regulations rushed through government yesterday to ensure approvals are not delayed.
It can be revealed that there was serious concern among senior government ministers that green groups would attempt to use the COVID-crisis as a means to further delay big projects.
Initial legal advice was obtained by government that there was a risk any decisions made on major projects which relied on online or telephone hearings and meetings could be the subject of appeal or legal dispute.
In a bid to offset this uncertainty, Planning Minister Rob Stokes has moved to amend the state’s Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation to explicitly allow public hearings and meetings using phone and video conference.
He said this was vital to clarify the legal requirements for public hearings during the pandemic to ensure planning bodies could continue to operate without delay.
“A fundamental part of the planning system is ensuring people can continue to have their say and be listened to, and we’re using technology to ensure that continues during the pandemic,” Mr Stokes said.
“We are also committed to ensuring decisions on development applications and planning proposals don’t come to a halt during the pandemic so we can keep our economy moving and keep creating new jobs.”
Mr Stokes said it was crucial to be flexible.
The government has been committed to fast tracking development applications and project assessments through the planning system and wants to improve on this even further in the face of the pandemic when economic stimulus and certainty is needed.
There are multiple government Ministers who want a timely decision on the Narrabri gas project, which is controversial at a local level but which would drive close to 1000 local jobs and stimulate the economy at a critical time.
The project is still being considered by the Government’s department of planning before it is referred to the state’s Independent Planning Commission.
This was meant to happen in March, however was delayed by the pandemic.