SHFA's "Iron Grip" on Development Proposals
On 4 August the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority was given approval to assess development applications for areas under their control. In effect this means they can assess their own development applications. At a meeting with the Gerry Gleeson, SHFA Chairman, on 15 September he informed representatives of Friends of Pyrmont Point that SHFA did not approve its own development applications, as his minister does that.
At the same meeting Mr Gleeson said that SHFA would appoint an "independent assessor" to assess SHFA's development application, and then SHFA would recommend it to its minister for approval. One has to query the degree of independence of the assessor in such an arrangement.
However, Mr Gleeson does not seem to have any problems with appointing his own assessor to assess his own development application. This is rather reminiscent of "Yes Minister" episodes where Sir Humphrey Appleby says he will be glad to chair an enquiry into the operation of his own department.
For a representation of the development process for the Water Police site see the flow chart below titled "SHFA and Minister Control of Development" which shows how SHFA and its minister have total control of the development from inception to completion.
Any first year student of public administration would find fault with this process.
It is also interesting to note that Mr Gleeson refused an offer by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (NSW) to draft the architectural competition conditions and to manage the process. Again, any first year student of public administration would note the lack of any arms length scrutiny of the selection process.
It is also interesting to note from papers gained under Freedom of Information legislation that SHFA made a conscious decision not to engage probity officers to oversight the process.
SHFA and Minister Control of Development
