Warriewood Valley Meriton Development Not Recommended by JRPP – Residents Asked to Step up Local Support to Save the Valley
On Thursday Warriewood residents were at the offices of Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard, in Dee Why seeking an assurance that a Meriton proposed development, that contravenes the June 12th 2013 Pittwater Council Warriewood Review, not proceed. The day before (5.2.2014), the proposal which sought to amend the LEP by increasing the permissible residential densities and building height to accommodate residential apartment buildings, and had been referred to the Joint Regional Planning Panel, was completed with the JRPP making a recommendation to the Minister that the Meriton Planning Proposal application not proceed to the Gateway determination stage.
From that document:
JRPP RECOMMENDATION: The proposed instrument should not be submitted for a Gateway determination
JRPP Advice and Justification for Recommendation:
1. The Panel has considered the planning proposal, which would quadruple the density specified in last year’s specific amendment of Division 7A of the Pittwater Local Environmental Plan 1993 (the LEP), as it proposes to increase the dwellings currently permissible on the sites subject to the proposal from 151 to 626.
2. The Panel cannot see any justification to depart, to this large extent, from a plan that was made only a few months ago and is based on the recent Warriewood Valley Strategic Review, undertaken jointly by Pittwater Council and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.
3. The Panel notes that the densities nominated in the LEP would produce a residential character of two to three-storey medium density development of mainly townhouses. The planning proposal would produce a different and denser residential character of apartment buildings of four storeys.
4. If the proposal proceeds in its present form, and in the absence of a strategic review of the whole of the Warriewood Valley, it has the potential to set the precedent for all undeveloped residentially zoned land in the Valley.
5. For the above reasons the Panel unanimously recommends that the planning proposal should not proceed to gateway determination.
As yet there have been no assurances from the Director General of the Department of Planning that they will honour the Warriewood Valley Review adopted in June of 2013 developed in consultation with the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure and residents fear a statement made by Mr. Sam Haddard at that time ‘for flexibility on densities in the future’ intimate even the JRPP will be ignored.
Gateway reviews may be requested by a council or proponent following a gateway determination by the department, but before community consultation on the proposal has commenced. Under the Gateway system introduced from Friday 2 November 2012, the Minister (or delegate) determines whether the planning proposal is to proceed.
A statement from a Meriton spokesman this week seems to indicate, at this stage, they will make such a request despite the JRPP’s pre-Gateway recommendation.
The residents stated this week that they’re furious that despite their calls and emails the Minister has refused to discount the massive development proposal for the Warriewood Valley, “which makes a mockery of the 18 month Strategic Review carried out by Pittwater Council, the Department of Planning and the community. “
“The Strategic Review held last year, settled on an acceptable density of 32 dwellings per hectare for the remaining undeveloped land in the Valley. The review was endorsed by Sam Haddad, the Director General of the Department of Planning on 1 May 2013 and adopted on 12 June 2013. But Mr. Haddad attached an ambiguous letter to his endorsement which said he considered there could be future opportunities for higher density which could be assessed on merit. That letter has opened the door for changes to the agreed densities and that's why the residents are so worried about the sort of development that could now be considered suitable for Warriewood.”
On 7 June 2013, a Planning Proposal was lodged with Pittwater Council for the construction of up to 98 dwellings per developable hectare on 5 storey blocks of flats on two separate sites in Macpherson Street and three in Warriewood Road.
Pittwater Council rejected the application on 2 September 2013, so the developer then went through the Government’s Gateway process, which saw Pittwater council’s decision scrutinised by the head of the Planning Department and the Minister.
Chris Hornsby, the President of the Warriewood Residents Association says:
“Millions of dollars and months of time were spent on ‘your’ Strategic Review, which residents assumed gave them certainty. But the Director General of Planning and the Minister think otherwise. Now, all we’re asking of the Minister is the opportunity to meet with him to express our concerns.
“Our message to you, Mr Hazzard, is that this community is important and we feel betrayed by a Minister who insists that the main reason for rewriting the planning laws is to ensure the community is fully informed and involved from the very earliest stages of all development applications.
“That may be the theory, Minister, but it certainly isn't the practice. Your Strategic Review and LEP obviously aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. And hiding behind your department is not good enough".
On Saturday 8th of February the Warriewood Residents Association held a meeting at Pittwater RSL to which members of the community were invited for a community workshop to find out how you can help to stop rampant overdevelopment in Warriewood.
Angus Gordon commenting on the planning decision process at this meeting; "Why is it not possible for the community to get a seat at the table."
At the meeting people were urged to ask everybody to talk to radio stations: 2GB 131873 - 2UE 131332 and ABC 1399 222 702 and to keep calling:9228 6448 Dept of Planning or emailing Mr Haddard at: sam.haddad@planning.nsw.gov.au
Warriewood Residents Association: www.warriewood.org.au
