STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANN1NG POLICY 15 AND YOU!

18th February 97

After nearly two years since it promised to reinstate the state wide Multiple Occupancy legislation the Carr government has started on a process of reviewing the policy. We have only got this far because of the persistent lobbying of Pan Com and the much appreciated efforts of Ian Cohen (Greens) and Janelle Saffin (Labor) both members the State Upper House.

There is no certainty that the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning's review process will result in either:

  1. Reinstatement of SEPP15, or
  2. A multiple occupancy policy that will meet the needs of communities.
To ensure that multiple occupancy of rural land continues to have effective state wide policy backing supporters of the policy need to act now!

PLEASE WRITE AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR A COMMUNITY (PREFERABLY) TO THE DEPARTMENT OF URBAN AFFAIRS AND PLANNING BEFORE 14TH MARCH (address is on enclosed sheet).

We suggest that you write to the Department in simple direct terms. Here
are some ideas about what you might like to say:
Multiple Occupancy has given: You might also like to comment on the superiority of M.O. over Community Title in the sense that it allows community members to have choice over membership and is lower cost because the infrastructure costs are less (no surveying, or inappropriately high standard of facilities).

It is important to stress that MO needs to be available to todays young people who are facing high levels of unemployment and little or no prospect of owning their own home. You could also mention that this situation is getting worse with the current attack on public housing. These issues are too important to be left to the whim of individual councils. Historically local councils have taken a very conservative and prejudiced attitude to MO. We need a State Policy to protect and encourage Multiple Occupancy so that people can make a broader choice about their way of life.

Pan Com will be writing its collective submission as discussed at the meeting on 9th Pebruary. This submission will be more technical in nature and compliment the submissions from individuals and communities. If you wish to be involved in this submission or want help with your own submission contact Peter Hamilton 858648, Simon Clough 886217, Alan Hill 897464, Eddie Buivids 843813 or Graham Irvine 891666.

MONEY!!! Pan Com has been operating on a shoestring for years. To mount an effective campaign for the reinstatement of the MO policy we need more money to cover fax, phone and mailout costs. AIso Pan Com will need additional funds to make a reasonable contribution to the establishment of a National Intentional Communities organisation with a regular newsletter (see last newsletter).

Dharmananda has recently joined Bodhi Farm as Pan Com's only regular contributors. They contribute $50 a month between them, we need more! So please ask your community to make a donation. It's an investment in the future of MO and intentional communities.

You can make a one off donation (mailed to the address below) or preferably organise an automatic deduction Tom your credit union account (banks charge too much) to Pan Com's account at Summerland Credit Union account number 21367.

VISIONS OF NIMBIN

Pan Com has been approached to make a condition to this "cultural and trade" exposition at the Nimbin Showground at Easter. At our last meeting we decided to have a stall that would feature photographs and writings about local communities. Bridget Crouch 895300 and Robin Moore 897239 have undertaken to coordinate contributions from different communities. We would also like someone to volunteer to co-ordinate material specifically on buildings on communities, please contact Robin or Bridget.

COME TO THE EXPO, IT WILL BE A GREAT EVENT.
Pan Comnunity Council, PO box 102, Nimbin 2480