Faith in the planning system in Sydney might be a bit shaky at the moment, courtesy of one particular high-rise at Homebush (Opal) which has turned out to be rather shaky indeed.

Here in the Illawarra, where we have enough room to live in a more civilised fashion, our faith is being shaken by another scourge on the system – developers gaming the rules with cynical “modifications”.

This is where a developer submits a modest proposal and wins approval because planners decide, on the balance of competing issues, it’s fair enough. 

Then you wait. Let the fuss die down. Quietly, you apply for a “modification” to the plans. Not a new proposal, which may require more intensive environmental assessments, or may stir up community opposition, or may tip the balance against your venture. No no no. Just a little modification. 

Such as in Thirroul, where Anglicare wants to “modify” its plans for a retirement village near Sandon Point – approved in 2006 – to include some townhouses. Such a modification, in fact, that the retirement village has halved in size. It won’t be built until after the 57 townhouses, which will take up half the site, on blocks between 150 and 210 square metres, in prime position on the hill, with the ocean views.

Anglicare had “reviewed the market”.

Some might say the appropriate term is “taking the piss”.

Down at Calderwood, Landlease, is apparently not satisfied with approval for 4800 homes on its controversial new slice of suburbia. It’s asked for a “modification” for an additional 1700 dwellings, and by the way, the school we promised will be smaller, and won’t be ready until 2031.

And at Tallawarra, the Bridgehill group wants to ramp up its housing plans from the 1010 approved in 2013, to 1480 – with more density. And the promised school and retirement village will be dropped.

So while the rest of us average Josephines sweat over the DA required to extend the back deck by a metre, big developers can short-cut the assessment process by simply asking for a ”modification”.

I’m not saying ban townhouses. But don’t go getting approval for aged care, then pull a swifty and ask for townhouses instead. That makes a mockery of the planning system and people’s ability to engage with it.