The recent ‘Death of Democracy’ rally has helped further lift the profile of inappropriate development in Ku-ring-gai but the fight goes on, according to Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea.
“I have again written to the Minister for Planning, Kristina Keneally, drawing her attention to the rally and that it was motivated by the depth of community feeling against what many people see as unreasonable intervention by the State Government in local planning issues,” Mr O’Dea said.
“In my letter to the Minister I said, ‘As you are aware there is wide community belief that the extent of development exerts unreasonable pressure on ageing infrastructure, the environment and heritage of the Ku-ring-gai area’.
“The people of Ku-ring-gai want a more balanced approach to development in the area and for the State Government to honour the 10,000 new dwellings target under the Metropolitan Strategy,” Mr O’Dea said.
“My own estimates place the number of dwellings built, approved or allowed for at around 14,000 (40% above the agreed target) after allowing for take-up rates.
“In the circumstances (and mindful of the North Shore Times article 30/09/09, ‘Ku-ring-gai protest not normal says Keneally’) the reaction of residents to proposed high-rise development in the area is both understandable and normal,” he said.
“I again call on the Minister to transparently release details regarding the commissioning of an independent audit of new dwellings in Ku-ring-gai and to take appropriate action when it becomes clear to her that the agreed target has been exceeded,” Mr O’Dea said.
“I am also delighted that my Liberal colleague Rob Stokes, the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, will be formally visiting the area on 3 November to witness the impacts of State-imposed over-development, as other Liberal Members have done previously”, Mr O’Dea concluded.
