Ombudsman says planning laws applied inconsistently

THE Ombudsman has discovered problems and inconsistencies in how planning legislation isapplied.

The failures included a lack of public access to records on pre-planning meetings and consultations held prior to planning decisions. The Ombudsman’s office surveyed nine local authorities and found they took different approaches.

A spokesman for the Ombudsman’s office confirmed last night that a submission on the matter is being prepared for the Department of the Environment.