Page 5584 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 4 December 1991
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suggesting is that in an important planning development proposal it is appropriate for the community to be given an opportunity to participate in the process. They do not have to turn up, but they should at least be given the opportunity.
I would have thought that these days any developer or proponent worth his or her salt would have been prepared at least to put the issues on the table and have them considered and debated in the full glare of a public and open forum. That is what it is all about - the open processes of planning and development. It was brought forward by Mr Ted Mack in North Sydney and it worked quite well. It provides a perfect opportunity for the proponent of any proposal to put the issues on the table, out in front, and let the community look at them. If the community can knock them down, so be it. In the long run, it will probably cost them less money.
From a balance sheet point of view, if I were a proponent I would like to know as early as possible whether I was going to have some major problems with the community. There would be nothing worse than getting halfway down the track and finding suddenly that you have all sorts of litigation and attempts by the community to stop your proposal. If you were prepared to put everything on the deck from the beginning, from day one, and have an opportunity to discuss it with the community, things would go much more smoothly. It is unfortunate that Mr Wood seems to be decrying - - -
Mr Wood: No, you have got it wrong.
MR JENSEN: I am sorry, Mr Wood; but that is the impression that is coming across to us. You seem to be decrying the importance of public consultation and the role of the community in planning and development issues in this city. If we go further down the path of public consultation and involvement of the community, we will end up with a much better planning system. It is unfortunate that the Government is not seeking to support this proposal by Mr Moore.
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and the Arts and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (5.58): The heading at the top says "Consultation".
Mr Moore: Yes, and then it goes ahead and does not do it.
MR WOOD: Maybe the heading is wrong; maybe we should change the headings. Clause 127 was designed for a specific purpose. In keeping with accepted practice these days, it was designed specifically for conflict resolution, if you like, a round-table meeting.
Mr Jensen: What is wrong with that?
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