NSW: Councils should charge for speedy processing - Opposition
SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - NSW councils should be able to charge a fee for people wantingtheir home building applications fast-tracked, the opposition said today.
The state government yesterday banned councils from charging urgency fees of more than$2,000 to speed up the often lengthy application process.
The move followed revelations North Sydney and Leichhardt councils were charging feeswhile others were planning to introduce them.
But opposition planning spokesman Andrew Humpherson said people should be given theoption of paying for a quicker service.
"Councils should be able to provide choice," Mr Humpherson said.
"Allowing people to pay a premium takes the pressure off councils, allowing other applicationsto be processed faster.
"Many councils take far too long when processing applications - this provides a degreeof certainty for people."
Mr Humpherson said the opposition would be writing to the state's 172 councils to determineif they supported the practice.
"We will be writing to councils today to ask if they support the principle of choiceand telling them we will support them if the state government decides to clamp down onthe idea," he said.
Planning Minister Andrew Refshauge said the fees were unfair as they created a queuefor the rich and "another much-longer queue for the rest".
AAP ls/arb/pw/bwl
KEYWORD: FEES OPPN
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