DEPUTY Mayor Nik Lipovac says local democracy has been undermined by the State Government’s decision to seize control of the proposed 18-storey Park Street development, leaving Port Macquarie Hastings Council on the sideline.
Cr Lipovac described the intervention as “really disappointing” and emblematic of a growing power imbalance between councils and Macquarie Street.
The high-rise proposal was declared State Significant Development by Planning Minister Paul Scully just before Christmas, placing final determination in the hands of the State Government and limiting council’s role to providing feedback at a later stage.
“You’re here to represent the people and the local government area, and then you have a State Government edict that says you’ll have no involvement in this,” Cr Lipovac said.
“That’s really disappointing.
“Local voices are critical to major projects like this, particularly early in the process, before things are set in stone.”
He said Council and the community would eventually be invited to provide feedback, but said there was no timeframe for when that would occur.
Asked whether the process amounted to tokenism, Cr Lipovac said: “That’s a good word for it, and it may even be box-ticking.”
Cr Lipovac said the situation highlighted a broader contradiction in how the State Government now treats local councils.
“Local councils are being given more and more responsibilities, often with very little extra funding to deliver them,” he said.
“Then you get something like this – a major development – where we have little or no say.”
In terms of leverage, Cr Lipovac said the Council’s options were limited.
“It doesn’t seem like we have much leverage at all, other than getting our state member (Robert Dwyer) to get behind what the community wants and needs,” he said.
“Once the process opens up, councillors will sit together and decide whether we think it’s suitable for the area and what needs to be adjusted before we make a submission.
“But in the meantime, it really needs to be the community, council and the local member working together.
“Hopefully people power can prevail in the end.”
Cr Lipovac has major concerns about high-rise development changing the character of Port Macquarie, saying he does not want it to resemble the Gold Coast.
He said population growth was inevitable, with the Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area now approaching 100,000 residents.
But he warned the growth needed to be balanced and sustainable, where infrastructure keeps pace with the influx of new residents.
“People have moved here to escape cities like Sydney and Melbourne,” he said.
“They want the amenities and facilities, but they also want that quieter coastal lifestyle.
If we start building high-rises, that changes who we are.
“The skyline would be horrendous with one 18-storey building sitting in the middle of nowhere with water views.”
He also questioned the affordable housing component used to justify large-scale developments as State Significant.
“How affordable is that really going to be in a massive waterfront project like this?” he said.
“I’d love to see the State Government purchase the land off the proponent and develop something smaller and more suitable for the area.”
Beyond the Park Street proposal, Cr Lipovac said infrastructure remained one of the most pressing challenges facing the region.
“When I was first elected in 2021, we learned very quickly that we were already 10 to 15 years behind where we should be on infrastructure keeping pace with population growth,” he said.
“We’re behind the eight ball, and people keep moving here.”
Cr Lipovac also pointed to homelessness as an issue requiring urgent attention, saying the problem had been growing for years.
Looking ahead to his role as Deputy Mayor in 2026, Cr Lipovac is keen to see accelerated planning around sporting infrastructure.
“We need to work with developers to make sure that we have more than enough for our local area and think ahead towards the future,” he said.
“We’ve seen how Coffs Harbour and Tamworth have massive sporting venues that they thought about 30-40 years ago.
“And now they’re drawing events and boosting their economy and making sure that they’re being used regularly.
“This is about having a long-term vision to compete for bigger events, and deliver for locals at the same time.”
By Matt TAYLOR
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