Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea, who first called for an independent audit of new dwellings in Ku-ring-gai last year, is pleased Planning Minister Keneally has finally agreed to an audit.
“I welcome the Minister’s decision and her undertaking that the results will be made public,” Mr O’Dea said.
“However, the inquiry must be conducted properly, in a timely and transparent manner.
“It is vitally important that all concerned can have complete confidence in the findings,” Mr O’Dea said.
“I also call on the Minister to state unequivocally that she will take appropriate action when it is found that current planning would result in more than the 10,000 new dwellings by 2031 as previously agreed.
“I first called for the independent audit in August 2008 - a call recently repeated by the Ku-ring-gai Residents Alliance.
“My own analysis, using fairly conservative assumptions (including for development “take-up” rates) indicates that currently proposed planning approaches will result in at least 14,000 new dwellings locally, or 40% above the agreed target.
“Earlier this month, I questioned the Minister in Parliament over whether an independent expert had been appointed to evaluate the Ku-ring-gai dwelling yields or projected new dwellings under the NSW Metropolitan Strategy.
“I also asked her to name the appointee for any review, to state when it would be completed and whether the report would be made public.
“I appreciate the Minister confirming that an audit is underway and will be made public. However I wait, along with the community, for details on who is undertaking the inquiry, when the findings will be made known, relevant terms of reference and other details” Mr O’Dea concluded.
