From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland flood historian Peter Bogan has spoken out in support of the State Emergency Service’s plan to gain statewide development and planning authority.
In January the SES announced it would push to have authority granted to become a part of the planning and development approval process, including at local council level.
Maitland City Council opposed the plan saying state guidelines for building in flood-prone areas were adequate, but Mr Bogan said this might not be the case.
“While all local decisions on planning were informed by the state guidelines for building in flood-prone areas, the guidelines do not and can’t cover all matters, especially how floods can impinge on areas outside the floodplain,” Mr Bogan said.
Full article available at Maitland Mercury, Feb. 9, 2016.
