What do you think? I think it time to become political - if you care about the longterm sustainability livability and the natural environment of SEQ. By that I mean write and talk about this article. Make sure all your so-called representative know WHAT YOU VALUE.
SOUTHEAST Queensland mayors want the state's planning authority's powers to be handed back after the release of a report that found its activities impacted on democracy.
An independent report - prepared by Professor Kenneth Wiltshire and Dr Stephen Jones of the University of Queensland Business School - has recommended the Urban Land Development Authority be abolished or have its powers stripped back.
It warned that undermining the role of local government in planning could seriously impact on democracy.
Council of Mayors (SEQ) acting chairman Cr John Brent said that the State Government's planning powers, through the ULDA, encroached upon the fundamental right of the community to vote out the people who were responsible for planning decisions.
"The community can't voice their concerns to an unelected faceless bureaucrat or a distant state minister," Cr Brent said.
"State and local governments have worked well together to develop and implement the SEQ Regional Plan, but the creation and expansion of the ULDA is taking planning out of the hands of local communities."
Deputy Premier Paul Lucas, however, dismissed the report and the calls of the mayors as just pushing former Council of Mayors chair Campbell Newman's campaign for Premier.
"I place no credibility whatsoever on a report that is essentially a hodge-podge of tired LNP criticisms in areas ranging from planning to electricity to water to local government amalgamations," Mr Lucas said.
