Bill Hoffman writes in the Sunshine Coast Daily (1.10.14) that ‘despite promising to put communities back in control of their future, the government’s new Planning and Development Act assures anything but that, stripping public rights to consultation on high-impact development, slashing consultation on regional plans from 60 to 40 days and removing ecological sustainability from the Great Barrier Reef management plan.’
The article continues:
‘The Act has been introduced without a comprehensive discussion paper – common practice for major legislative changes but in keeping with the LNP Government’s past two years of office, which have been marked by often rushed legislation and limited consultation.
‘Notification that major changes were being made to the planning scheme was limited and many Queensland residents would not realise that their chance to comment passed last Friday.’