Councils ‘told to review building height limits’
The NSW Labor Government’s Far North Coast Regional Strategy released yesterday opens the door to high-rise development in Ballina, Lismore and on the Tweed, Shadow Minister for North Coast Don Page said.
Mr Page said the strategy states ‘councils will review the building height limits within the central business areas, major employment areas and major tourism areas of Tweed, Ballina and Lismore local government areas (page 29)’.
He said that page 31 of the strategy clearly outlined the Labor Government’s push for ‘taller building precincts in the main business areas of a major regional centre’.
“Not only has the State Labor Government taken over the approval process for major coastal developments, now they are telling councils to review their building height limits and spruiking the benefits of high-rise,” Mr Page said.
“This opens the door to Gold Coast style high-rise developments which is of major concern.”
Mr Page said by contrast a NSW Liberal/Nationals Coalition Government would strictly enforce building height limits as per existing Local Environment Plans and Regional Environment Plans to protect the character of the Far North Coast.
“It was a Coalition Government that introduced the NSW Coastal Policy when last in Government which prohibited high-rise and restricted building heights. We will continue to strictly adhere to those height restrictions,” Mr Page said.
“Having established the Coastal Policy and the Coastal Council (subsequently abolished by the current Labor Government) we are keen to ensure we protect our coastal communities from over-development.”
Mr Page was a member of the NSW Coastal Council from 1993 to 1996.
