Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea, has written to new Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, requesting an urgent meeting with local community leaders over urban consolidation plans in the Ku-ring-gai Council area.
“I have written to the new Planning Minister, accepting her decision to continue with the NSW Metropolitan Planning Strategy but calling for a meeting to discuss implementation of the plan in Ku-ring-gai,” Mr O’Dea said.
“Planning needs to be returned to local communities, through their democratically-elected local councils. In Ku-ring-gai the heavy-handed appointment by former Minister Sartor of a Planning Panel to determine local planning issues has diminished the ability of local communities, through their Council, to determine their own future.
“The new Minister indicated she is happy to discuss development issues with local communities and I am pleased to accept her offer,” Mr O’Dea said.
“I have requested that key local community leaders be included in the meeting so the Minister can hear their concerns first hand and so she has the opportunity to respond.
“Assurances that Ku-ring-gai will not be forced to take more than the agreed 10,000 new dwellings under the Planning Strategy will also be sought. For that assurance to be meaningful, we also need to verify how many new dwellings have already been allowed for.
“I strongly believe that the current plans, including the most recent Town Centre proposals, allow for far in excess of 10,000 new dwellings by 2031.
“The new Minister has an opportunity to address community concerns and reverse some of the previous initiatives which have eroded local input and continue to threaten the area’s historic characteristics, traditional lifestyle and environmental values.
