If the Bligh Government is re-elected, I hope it reassesses its commitment to an independent panel to review major development applications in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, as reported in the Gold Coast Bulletin today:

AN INDEPENDENT panel will advise the Gold Coast City Council on major developments if Labor is re-elected in Queensland.

Premier Anna Bligh said the two-year “power to the people” planning trial for the Gold Coast and Brisbane councils would improve accountability, but she has not consulted councils about the policy.

She said 43 per cent of all Queensland development applications went through the Brisbane and Gold Coast councils.

The panel would assess major developments and publish their recommendations one week before the application is voted on by council.

If councillors vote against the panel’s advice, the councils will have to explain their decision, Ms Bligh said.

There seems to be little point to this. At best it would be completely ineffective, with Council simply having to produce a statement proclaiming the development’s economic and employment benefits, which for major developments is usually pretty easy. At worst it could give a platform for conservative residents whose NIMBYism may influence councillors to the detriment of the local construction sector (which is still pretty weak on the Gold Coast) and the broader economy.