Mark Parnell’s Bill requiring the state government and local councils to notify people affected by Development Planning Amendments, such as re-zonings was passed by the Legislative Counil on July 3.

Congratulations to all who supported the Bill’s progress. Alliance President Tom Matthews and Lizzie Crisp of the Prospect Residents Association were in the public gallery to hear the speeches and see the vote. Next, the Bill will go down to the House of Assembly where it will need to pass before it becomes law.  It will sit alongside the earlier Bill that passed the Legislative Council earlier this year (Interim Development Control). The Alliance urges its members and all concerned with real reform in planning to continue to push the Government to support these Bills to become law.  To date, the government has insisted that its “Expert Panel on Development Law Reform” is the appropriate forum for debating these issues rather than the Parliament.  We beg to differ. This is an opportunity for significant reform that should be taken now.