PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council Administrator, Dick Persson last Thursday night announced Council was withdrawing it’s ‘in principle’ support for a proposed peaking power station near Kew and will not sell Council owned land for the project.
Council sought legal advice to ascertain what impact withdrawing support would have on Council.
Administrator Dick Persson said, following the receipt of legal advice, as Council is the owner of the land, I have made the decision to withdraw owners consent for the power plant at Herons Creek.
The legal advice states, “no ‘offer and acceptance’ exists between the parties in relation to the land sale”…and that “Council may discontinue negotiations about the land sale.”
“I have made the decision to advise International Power (Australia) (IP) that Council, as the land owner is revoking the consent to sell the land to IP or any other proponent wishing to construct a peaking power station fuelled by distillate.
“We will also be advising the Department of Planning of our decision.”
“I agree with the community opposition to the proposal for a distillate peaking power station. Having now had the chance to learn about this issue, I see no public benefit and considerable non-benefit. Under these circumstances it is not appropriate for Council to facilitate the development by selling Council land.
“As a good corporate citizen, Council has a responsibility to the community to be as environmentally friendly as possible, so if a company approached Council with a proposal for an environmentally sustainable power station to directly assist local power supplies, then we would look at it, Mr Persson said.
Area 13 gets closer
Council has accepted a range of recommendations that are set to allow the development of Area 13.
Council’s Development & Environment Division has completed a review of the draft Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) for Area 13 following exhibition of the draft Plans and associated documents in January/February 2008.
The draft LEP and DCP have been revised, where necessary, in response to issues raised and were adopted by Council Administrator, Dick Persson.
The approval is the culmination of several years of planning by Council. Area 13 was identified for urban growth in the Hastings Urban Growth Strategy in 2001 to accommodate much of the projected growth in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area in the coming 20 years.
The LEP provides for an estimated population of around 10,000 people in four residential neighbourhoods with a central town centre and employment areas, Administrator, Dick Persson said.
“It has been important to contain projected growth in areas near existing services and employment centres such as Port Macquarie to minimise urban sprawl and to promote sustainability.
“I am particularly pleased with the attention given to protecting the environment. This is the first time in NSW that a council has successfully obtained voluntary planning agreements with multiple landowners to implement environmental management outcomes in a co-ordinated manner,” Mr Persson said.