The two local State Members for the Ku-ring-gai Council area, Barry O’Farrell and Jonathan O’Dea will meet with Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally next Tuesday afternoon, 23 June in NSW Parliament House.
In addition to raising some specific site issues, they will again highlight the following important general matters with the Minister:
· The proposals would force the local area to accept substantially more than 10,000 new dwellings by 2031, contrary to the agreement with Ku-ring-gai Council.
· Existing problems with local infrastructure and services (including traffic) around the town centres, and the current lack of commitment to new infrastructure.
· The height, bulk and density of many potential developments are out of character with the surrounding environment.
· The plan fails to protect identified conservation areas, with some streets of high conservation or heritage value ignored.
· The importance of protecting local input to decision-making on planning matters through an elected local council.
The Planning Panel recently approved the Town Centre Plans, despite a huge public outcry. The plans are now before the Planning Minister for her final consideration, approval and gazettal.
“We want to ensure that the Minister understands the devastation that these plans will cause in our local area. We will again lobby for changes, hopefully with some success,” Mr O’Dea said.
