Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has launched a further broadside on the NSW Labor Government over planning in Ku-ring-gai.
The latest “salvo” follows the recent publication of answers to Mr O’Dea’s latest written questions, addressed to the Planning Minister, over the process and findings of the so-called “independent” Treadstone Report into Ku-ring-gai dwelling numbers.
The response to Parliamentary Question 8950 confirmed that the Treadstone Report’s author did not consult community groups and local MPs, who had expressed substantial concerns about the accuracy of the matters reviewed in the report. Rather, as the Minister acknowledged, local developers and development industry professionals were consulted, including those involved in preparing, assessing and implementing development applications.
“‘One-sided’ and ‘Whitewash’ are terms that come readily to mind. You might as well survey school children over whether they should have more holidays, ice cream or lollypops,” Mr O’Dea said.
“While perpetuating certain errors in methodology, the report also makes already conservative yield assumptions / “take-up” rates even more conservative in order to try to reduce projected new dwelling numbers.
“At the same time, the Minister’s response to Question 8949 indicates the Government has failed to issue any guidelines to councils for assessing “take-up” rates for new dwellings under Metropolitan Strategy targets,” he said.
“When asked if written submissions to the Treadstone report would be fully considered, the Minister would only say the draft LEP and any supporting documentation would be forwarded by the Planning Department and that all relevant matters would be considered as part of the assessment process.
“Many in Ku-ring-gai believe they have been ignored too long and the only hope of a genuine hearing is with a change of government in March 2011,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
