Planning staff in overload

TWEED Council’s planning department is asking councillors to stop dumping work on them just because they don’t like the way the shire is losing its village atmosphere.

The department’s eight staff are juggling 18 planning approvals, mounting strategies, programs and workshops – enough work for 12 people for the next 10 months.

Tonight, councillors will be asked to put a hold until July next year on planning proposals requesting rezoning within the planning scheme.

But while staff struggle, Mayor Katie Milne says the community is losing its “iconic villages” as a result of outdated planning schemes.

“There are community plans that have been waiting for years to get a look-in, such as the Fingal and Chinderah plans that were identified as priorities in 2004,” she said.

“We are losing the character of these iconic villages as a consequence.”

According to the department’s report, staff haven’t had time to even start many projects, including the Fingal and Chinderah plans.

Tweed councillor Warren Polglase said the left-centre councillors were overloading the staff.

He said councillors Milne, Ron Cooper, Reece Byrnes and Chris Cherry demanded workshops and reports and made decisions which sent council to the Land and Environment Court.

“We spent $1.3 million on court fees in the past year,” he said.

Cr Cooper said councillors had to get planning right.

“We could add planning staff or contract more staff if delays go out too far,” he said.