[Greens-Media] (Shoebridge MLC) Wolseley Road decision makes a mockery of community consultation

[Colin Hesse]

Media Release
 
>From David Shoebridge,Greens MP and spokesperson for Planning and Local
Government
 
For Immediate Use
 
Wolseley Road decision makes a mockery of community consultation 
 
Greens planning spokesperson David Shoebridge MP has criticised both
the process and decision by the Minister for Planning to re-zone the
Masada school site at Lindfield for medium density housing.
 
"I recently met with representatives of the Wolseley and Treatts Roads
Residents Action Group (WTRRAG) at Lindfield. I am dismayed, but not
surprised, that their representations to maintain the existing character
of their neighbourhood have been ignored by the Minister for Planning",
said Mr Shoebridge
 
"The shameful experience of this community group is a microcosm of all
that is wrong with the current state of planning in NSW. It raises
serious questions about transparency of the decision making process.
 
“It is no wonder, based upon WTRRAG’s treatment, that there is a
prevailing mood of cynicism and disconnection in the community when it
comes to the planning process.
 
Short History
 
A predecessor to the present Minister removed planning powers from the
Ku-ring-gai Council and appointed his own Planning Panel.
 
 The WTRRAG community group made submissions to the Panel at its public
hearings about a parcel of land in their local area in support of its
zoning as R2 (residential) and against its up zoning.  
 
 This local planning issue involved consideration of the existence of
critically endangered Blue Gum High Forest on the site, the heritage
conservation status of adjoining streetscape and proper town planning
principles.
 
 The Minister’s own appointed Panel agreed with the analysis and
position taken by the residents and, in the Panel’s Draft Local
Environment Plan (LEP) for the Lindfield Town Centre, determined that
the relevant site should be zoned R2.
 
 WTRRAG took the additional precautionary step of also writing to the
Minister and the Department of Planning specifically asking that they be
consulted if there was any prospect that the Panel’s designation of
the site as R2 might not be implemented. The request was ignored and the
site zoned R4 High Density Residential by the Department.
 
 The Minister has ignored WTRRAG and ignored his own appointed
Panel’s designation of the relevant site as R2. 
 
 
"The dreadful process that has lead to rezoning of the land around the
Masada school is the product of the centralisation of the planning
system that was supported by both the Labor Government and the Liberal
Opposition.
 
"While the Liberal Party has in recent times stated that it will repeal
Part 3A of the Planning Act, statements by the Opposition Leader last
week in local North Shore media that, "There are decisions that are not
capable of unpicking any more than you can unscramble an omelet," are of
serious concern.
 
"The community have a right to know what a Liberal Government will
replace the current broken planning system with, and it cannot simply be
Part 3B.
 
"The people of Ku-ring-gai also have a right to demand that their local
member will stand up for them when dreadful decisions such as the Masada
re-zoning have been made by Labor.
 
"We all have the right ask, 'where is Barry?"
 
"I am pleased that WTRRAG is challenging the validity of the
Ku-ring-gai Town Centre LEP in the Land and Environment Court .
 
"The Greens have moved a Bill in Parliament to repeal Part 3A and
restore planning powers to local government for all but genuine matters
of state significance such as transport infrastructure, water, drainage
and sewerage, communications and electricity supply.
 
"The Greens will continue to stand up for a genuine merit based
planning system where residents are heard, on a proposal and decisions
are made on the substantial merits of a proposal, Mr Shoebridge said.
For more information: 
 
David Shoebridge       0408 113 952
Colin  Hesse       
         9230 3030 or 0401 719 124