Breaking News
Services are at risk
Tuesday 8 April, 2008 12:01am
LOCAL councils are continuing to warn of the impact on services to residents from new developer laws.
Facilities such as childcare and community centres across NSW are more at risk from the State Government's pro-developer laws than from the investment market fallout, the Local Government and Shires Association said last week.
Draft legislation due in State Parliament will reduce councils' ability to provide local services, Local Government Association of NSW president Genia McCaffery said.
"The State Government's Developer Laws will take control of local decisions away from local communities," Cr McCaffery said.
"The fallout from the US investment market will be minor compared to the impacts of the State Government's proposed planning changes."
President of the Shires Association Bruce Miller, said councils were simply following the rules, which were supposed to guarantee the security of their investments.
"Councils, like the various other private organisations and agencies affected by the fallout, were simply following guidelines and advice from rating agencies." he said.
Cr Miller said the possible losses from the fallout would be insignificant next to the loss of local control and the millions of dollars communities would lose as a result of the pro-developer laws.
