Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has called on the State Government appointed Ku-ring-gai Planning Panel to respond sympathetically to community concerns over the draft town centre plans.
The Planning Panel will hold a final Public Meeting on the proposals in the Greenhalgh Auditorium, University of Technology, 100 Eton Road, Lindfield on Wednesday, 27 May from 6.00 pm.
“This is the final opportunity for residents to comment on the town centre proposals before the plan is sent to Planning Minister Keneally for consideration and gazettal. Anyone wishing to address the meeting must register in the Greenhalgh Auditorium foyer between 5.00 and 5.55 pm, immediately before the meeting,” Mr O’Dea said.
Over 1,800 submissions were lodged with the overwhelming majority objecting to the proposed town centre plans on the grounds of adverse impact on the area’s environment and unique character, as well as due to inadequate infrastructure.
“The State Government appointed Planning Panel, which has replaced the elected council on various planning matters, must not further erode democracy by ignoring the overwhelming public opinion against the draft plans,” Mr O’Dea said.
Shadow Minister for the Environment, Catherine Cusack, who has toured the area and last night addressed the Friends of the Ku-ring-gai Environment (FOKE) AGM, said the impact of the draft plans would see the Ku-ring-gai Environment, “shredded like waste paper”.
“Shadow Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard, is also critical of the town centre plans and will again visit the Ku-ring-gai area next week. He will speak at two local meetings and receive briefings from community group representatives,” Mr O’Dea said.
“I also hosted a tour of the area by Planning Minister Keneally in late 2008 and insisted that new dwelling developments in Ku-ring-gai not exceed the Metropolitan Planning Strategy agreed target of an additional 10,000 dwellings by 2031.
“There is clear evidence to suggest the number of constructed and approved dwellings for Ku-ring-gai will exceed the target by as much as 40%,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
