SCRUBY HANDS RESIDENT DOSSIER TO GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING SOS MONA VALE RALLY AT PARLIAMENT
Resident action group, SOS Save our Suburb Mona Vale, today rallied at NSW Parliament House calling for an immediate moratorium on state-led planning reforms for Pittwater due to infrastructure constraints and bushfire risks.
SOS Mona Vale presented an evidenced-based dossier outlining the need to stop development in the Pittwater electorate, including stories from impacted residents, and key findings following SOSMV town hall events, including key issues:
- Wastewater and Coastal Health Failures;
- Geographic constraints and evacuation concerns;
- Lack of infrastructure and transport services; and
- Affordable housing concerns.
With over 100 attending the rally, Convenor John David, Former Pittwater General Manager Angus Gordon OAM, veteran campaigners Parry Thomas and Shane Withington, addressed the crowd, with many other residents taking up the megaphone. Affordable Forever and Mosman Matters community members were also in attendance and in support of sensible housing reform.
All Members of Parliament were invited to the event, but from the Legislative Assemble, only those who voted against the bipartisan planning reforms addressed the crowd including Jacqui Scruby MP, Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan, Member for Balmain, Kobi Shetty. Sue Higginson MLC and the Hon. Rachel Merton MLC from the Legislative Council also addressed the crowd.
Ms Scruby and others called out the Opposition’s failure to oppose the planning reforms, and denounced the low and mid-rise and Housing Delivery Authority as ‘development at any cost,’ which overrides strategic planning and community voice.
Following the rally, Ms Scruby presented the dossier to Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Public Spaces, Mr Stephen Bali MP, who sat down with Messrs David, Gordon and Thomas, and listened to the group’s concerns.
Earlier in the day, Ms Scruby gave a Notice of Motion condemning the Housing Delivery Authority and inappropriate mid and high-rise development in her electorate, calling on the Minns Labor Government to introduce a moratorium.
Attributable to Ms Scruby:
“Political pressure comes from community pressure. Today, Pittwater locals took their concerns directly to the steps of NSW Parliament, making it clear that they will not stand by whilst these bipartisan planning reforms turn on the taps for developers at the expense of our community.
“Just as they did on the floor of Parliament when they voted for these reforms, Liberal and Labor MPs declined the opportunity to hear directly from the people affected by them.
“While those MPs remained inside Parliament House, community representatives and the MPs who continue to stand up against these reforms made their voices heard. Michael Regan, Member for Wakehurst, Kobi Shetty, Member for Balmain, and Sue Higginson MLC, continue to be important voices challenging NSW’s developer-led planning agenda.
“Development cannot be a ‘let it rip’ exercise. Mona Vale and the wider Pittwater area face very real constraints, including major roads that can be cut off by flooding and bushfires, an already dysfunctional transport system, and wastewater infrastructure limitations.”
Media contact:
James Vernon
99993599
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