SUTHERLAND Shire’s new mayor Steve Simpson has rejected calls for the draft local environmental plan (LEP) to be withdrawn and rewritten following allegations of special favours for developers.
Labor councillors and the residents’ group Save Our Shire described the document as ‘‘tainted’’ and ‘‘contaminated’’.
Councillor Simpson, who lives at Alfords Point and has represented E Ward for the past 18 years, was elected mayor on Monday night.
He replaced Kent Johns, who did not renominate following weekend Fairfax Media reports.
Cr Johns moved that the council refer the newspaper reports and provide council records to the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Division of Local Government.
An amendment moved by Cr Peter Towell saw the council go further and vote to ask Local Government Minister Don Page to undertake ‘‘a full investigation and public inquiry into all planning matters over the past 12 months’’.
The council also called for a report on what would be involved in reinstating the Office of the Internal Ombudsman.
Cr Simpson told the Leader the public exhibition period for the draft LEP, which was extended last week to November 1, should continue.
‘‘We need to come to a consensus on it,’’ he said.
Cr Simpson said many comments had been received and others could have their say before November 1.
‘‘Should it be withdrawn at this stage? Certainly not,’’ he said.
‘‘We need to look at the public comments and let our professional staff look at them.’’
Cr Simpson indicated he would rely heavily on the advice of council staff, describing them as ‘‘the best professional planning staff in the state’’.
He would not be drawn on the recent allegations or Cr Johns’s style as mayor.
‘‘We can’t change history. That will be for others to judge’’ he said.
‘‘All we can do is move forward.
‘‘That is not a reflection on past mayors and past councils.
‘‘We have asked for an inquiry.
‘‘That needs to run its course and no one’s reputation should be sullied until that takes place. Our council will be co-operative in any way we can.’’
Cr Simpson said his approach would be ‘‘to ensure the council is there to serve the residents, to ensure our budgetary matters are open and the council is financially stable’’.
‘‘I want to speak for the 15 councillors. I am not saying anyone in the past hasn’t,’’ he said.
‘‘If you look at my history, you will see residents are my first concern every time.’’
BLIGHT SAYS START AGAIN
Labor councillor and former mayor Phil Blight said he hoped ‘‘the council can now work together and clean up procedures and re-do the LEP’’.
‘‘I think the LEP in its present form is tainted and we need to go back and get staff advice and come up with a new LEP,’’ he said.
‘‘The Department of Planning wants it as soon as possible but they should realise the odour around this one. It can still be done in three to six months.’’
SACK THE COUNCIL
Save Our Shire spokesman Neil deNett said the draft LEP was ‘‘contaminated and must be placed on hold until it can be re-written openly and honestly’’.
‘‘Staff that were sacked should be given the opportunity to apply for reinstatement,’’ he said. ‘‘A judicial inquiry should be carried out into the development decisions, in particular, and other decisions in general.’’
Mr deNett said that as a last resort ‘‘the whole sorry mess’’ might need to be resolved by sacking the council and appointing an administrator.
‘‘The shire has been shamed by greed.’’
Do you think the LEP should be withdrawn and rewritten?
