Committee to Decide

I write in response to Member for Heffron Kristina Keneally's letter (March 12, 2008).

The Central Sydney Planning Committee was established by the State Government in

September 1988, will carefully consider all submissions regarding the proposed DA on the Hillsong development in Rosebery.

The committee is made up of seven members, including three City of Sydney representatives with Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP as the chair, another councillor and myself (as elected by Council). The final four members of the committee are appointed by the Minister for Planning and consist of two senior State Government employees and two other members with expertise in architecture, building, civic design, construction, engineering, transport, tourism, the arts, planning or heritage.

Under state legislation the committee has the right in the city local government area to determine applications for major developments (the estimated cost of which exceeds $50 million).

JOHN MCINERNEY, Independent Councillor, City of Sydney

Source: Central of 19 March 2008