Have you put pen to paper and sent a letter to the Minister for planning the Hon Andrew Refshauge? If you haven't please look at the letter below which I sent to all the Councillors of Newcastle Council. It is asking them to request the Minister to establish an inquiry. We think that this is the only way that the views of the Objectors will get to be heard. Sure, the Minister will have to finally make up his own mind but this is the only way we will be heard let alone any notice being taken of us. We must rattle the cage louder.
Parks and Playgrounds Movement


Inquiry-Honeysuckle Waterfront Hotel and Residential Apartments Development Application No.211-06-2000

Today's Newcastle Herald carries a story indicating that Council will tonight discuss a proposal to request the Hon Dr. Andrew Refshauge to establish a commission of Inquiry to hear planning matters relating to the above development Application.

You will recall that I addressed the Council recently and I urged Councillors to request that the Minister establish a commission of inquiry for the following reasons:

The State Government has gazetted a Regional Environmental Plan (REP) with the Minister as the Consent Authority. This plan is the statutory planning instrument and should be complied with and not be set aside without good reason.
   
The Minister's decision will be an arbitrary political decision if he does not first seek advice from an independent Commissioner who has heard all objectors in a fair and open manner.
   
The objectors including the Parks and Playgrounds Movement have not been heard and therefore we will be denied natural justice if there is no inquiry.
   
The project has been identified as of regional significance which gives the Minister the power to determine the matter.
   
If the Minister called-in development like this under Sec.101 of the EP&A Act he would be obliged to have an inquiry and be advised by an independent commissioner.
   
However by making the REP in the way the previous Minister did, he made the Minister (himself) the consent authority.
   
The project is a planning matter and should be considered on its merits in an open forum and not in a political back room.
   
The only way that the inconsistencies can be assessed and resolved fairly with all parties being heard is by the Minister establishing a Commission of Inquiry under Sec.119 of the EP&A Act.
   
This is a matter for the Minister and an inquiry should be requested by the Newcastle Council.