Council to hold Hunter Water accountable for DA assessment delays

Council is to hold Hunter Water Corporation accountable for DA delays. Photo: file.

DUNGOG Shire Council has voted to hold Hunter Water accountable for delays in the assessment of any development application (DA) referred to the organisation.

Mayor Digby Rayward put forward a Mayoral Minute at Council’s meeting on 29 January, seeking improvements in current referral timeframes.

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Councillors carried the proposal unanimously which means that whenever a DA referred to Hunter Water Corporation exceeds the relevant notice periods under Environmental Planning and Assessment (EPA) regulations, Council will formally request the reason for the delay along with an updated deadline.

“We’re certainly concentrating on any roadblocks we see that can hold up our development applications,” Cr Rayward said.

“They’re a cost to our people putting them in and if Hunter Water are dragging their heels on this matter, we will only give them the required time unless they have specific reasons.

“Then we will take it from there.”

Under current regulations, Hunter Water must notify Dungog Shire Council of its decision on the general terms of approval within either 40 days of receiving a DA or within 21 days of Council providing any submission received as the result of a public exhibition period.

Mayor Rayward has long expressed his concern that some of Hunter Water’s decisions have taken longer than the regulatory timeframe, which has held up applications and put extra pressure on Council staff.

Council’s next monthly meeting will be held on 19 February.

By Sue STEPHENSON

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