Damien Brown Mercury
A LABOR MLC says the public’s right to appeal against development applications may have to be restricted in an effort to weed out troublemakers.
It comes as the first water pipeline from the Meander Dam is held up because of an appeal. Members of the Legislative Council yesterday debated as a matter of urgency a motion calling for immediate changes to planning schemes to ensure developments were not thwarted by irrelevant appeals. Independent MLC Greg Hall used the opportunity to attack Greens groups for blocking the pipeline and other water developments “just for the sake of it”. It is believed the Resource Management Planning Appeals Tribunal has received an appeal against the first of four planned Meander Dam to Quamby-Osmaston pipelines. … Independent MLC Jim Wilkinson and Labor MLC Doug Parkinson agreed appeal fees may be necessary. Read more here
