Campbelltown mayor George Brticevic hits out at CBD planning decisions

Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic has hit out at the planning processes that have taken decisions on major developments in the city’s CBD out of council hands.

The Brands on Sale factory outlet on Queen street Campbelltown is closing down.

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Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic has hit out at the planning processes that have taken decisions on major developments in the city’s CBD out of council hands.

A 20-storey apartment and commercial complex is currently proposed at 6-12 Dumaresq St and another 10-storey building is proposed for 28 Cordeaux St.

After being contacted by the Macarthur Chronicle regarding the proposed developments, Cr Brticevic said it had become frustrating that the council’s input into their design had been limited.

The Sydney South West Planning Panel, formerly the Joint Regional Planning Panel, is the consent authority for developments valued at over $20 million.

“It doesn’t take much to get to that value these days,” Cr Brticevic said.

“There are situations where we would prefer a better outcome or better design but we can only make a submission to the planning panel.

“We don’t want just ugly boxes being built.”

Cr Brticevic said the proposal to build an apartment complex atop the failed Brands on Sale factory outlet was an example of his frustrations.

“It was on public exhibition last year but now we don’t know what’s happened to it,” he said.

“The shear number of apartments in that proposal would have been a problem with 500 people getting in and out every day.

“It was very unusual, I’ve never seen anything in my life like that sort of proposal.”

Cr Brticevic said he often received e-mails from community members upset about approved developments.

The proposals at Dumaresq and Cordeaux streets have yet to come before councillors to make a decision on submissions to the SSWPP.

Both proposals are currently registered with the planning panel.