Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has written to new Planning Minister, Tony Kelly, requesting a meeting over planning issues in the Ku-ring-gai Council area.
Mr O’Dea has asked the new Minister to meet him and other community leaders in a bid to address issues regarding inappropriate development.
“I am extremely disappointed former Planning Minister and now Premier, Kristina Keneally, left her portfolio without properly addressing the concerns that had been raised with her for more than 12 months, particularly regarding the number of new dwellings” Mr O’Dea said.
“In fact, she perpetuated a deception on dwelling numbers through a sham ‘independent’ report.
“The report’s author spoke to developers but not to community leaders or local MPs who had expressed concerns over the methodology for calculating new dwellings in the first place,” Mr O’Dea said.
“I am hopeful Minister Kelly might be more willing to act, although I doubt he has the courage, given his predecessor, who promised so much but delivered so little for the area, is now his boss.
“We need an honest, truly independent assessment to determine the actual number of new dwellings already built or in the pipeline. Currently it is clearly in excess of the agreed target of 10,000 new dwellings by 2031,” Mr O’Dea said.
“Greater consideration must also be given to Ku-ring-gai’s environmental, architectural, social, historic, aesthetic, scientific and heritage values.
“A new Minister provides a new opportunity for the Government to listen to the community and address their concerns.
“Only time will tell if Minister Kelly is up to the task,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
