"Last week I welcomed the Land and Environment Court decision which found the Ku-ring-gai LEP Town Centres 2010 plan was made contrary to the act and has no legal force and effect.
"The decision was welcomed by many in the community who have anguished over the loss of heritage, environment, ambience and the traditional characteristics of the Town Centre suburbs", Mr O'Dea said.
"Under the former Labor Government, Ku-ring-gai took more than its fair share of growth over six years, with development approvals for approximately 6,000 dwellings.
"I congratulate the Friends of Turramurra for leading the legal challenge against the Town Centres Plan.
"The court decision is a clear indictment of the former NSW Labor Government and its ability (or lack thereof) to manage the state, particularly in the area of planning," he said.
"By contrast, the current NSW Government has taken various initiatives to put the community back at the heart of planning through their democratically elected local councils.
The Government has removed the local Planning Panel, abolished Part 3A Ministerial planning powers and scrapped SEPP 53 formerly governing dual occupancies in Ku-ring-gai. Councils now have greater power to determine which developments will proceed," Mr O'Dea said.
"The Government has also abolished the burdensome extra ad valorem land transfer tax, introduced by the previous government.
"Last week's Land and Environment Court decision provides an excellent opportunity to re-assess planning for the Ku-ring-gai Council area and ensure it better respects and reflects input from the local community.
"The decision is testimony to our open democratic processes. When governments make substandard decisions, they can be successfully challenged before the courts.
"Developers should be assured they will still have the opportunity to build in Ku-ring-gai, but will need to work more closely with the local council," Mr O'Dea concluded.
