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Promote informed community engagement around local issues
in Mona Vale and district and the wider Northern Beaches local
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MissionPromote informed community engagement around local issues in Mona Vale and district and the wider Northern Beaches local government area. |
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT DENSITY PLAN ON MONA VALE CENTRE & SUBURB
Council has advised that as currently proposed, Government high density reforms "could have significant impact on Mona Vale with a substantial increase in residential housing, far above those identified in the adopted Northern Beaches Local Housing Strategy and the draft Place Plan".
One size does not fit all – Northern Beaches Council calls on NSW Government to scrap its high density housing reforms
1. Council Response to State Government Higher Density Housing Proposal - letter to Mona Vale Residents Association attached below as Download File
2. Final Council Submission to DPHI Explanation of Intended Effects Changes to Low and Mid-rise Housing as Download File
Council has advised that as currently proposed, Government high density reforms "could have significant impact on Mona Vale with a substantial increase in residential housing, far above those identified in the adopted Northern Beaches Local Housing Strategy and the draft Place Plan".
One size does not fit all – Northern Beaches Council calls on NSW Government to scrap its high density housing reforms
- Northern Beaches Council is calling on Government to abandon the low and mid-rise housing reforms as outlined in the Department’s ‘Explanation of Intended Effect: Changes to Create Low and Mid-rise Housing’ (EIE), noting that Council already has the capacity to plan for future growth.
- Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the anticipated scale of development that is proposed in the EIE would have long lasting environmental and social impacts for the local area.
- “We want to be part of the solution to Sydney’s housing crisis, but unplanned development of this scale will lead to greater congestion on local roads, put pressure on community infrastructure and overload the very limited public transport options available on the Northern Beaches,” Mayor Heins said.
- “The proposals do not require the provision of any new affordable housing units".
- “In some areas, it will change the local character of our neighbourhoods, reduce tree canopy and threaten local heritage.”
- Government radical proposals are also in conflict with current and proposed Council-led precinct planning in places like Frenchs Forest, Brookvale and Mona Vale. For example, the proposed number of dwellings under the Brookvale Structure Plan is based on detailed analysis of traffic capacity along Pittwater Road. The additional dwellings proposed within 800 metres of Warringah Mall under the Government’s proposals have not been accounted for and will likely exceed the capacity of the local road system.
- The Government has failed to demonstrate that there is adequate existing capacity or sufficient funding for essential road, stormwater, sewer, water and waste infrastructure upgrades to support increased densitydemonstrate adequate existing capacity or sufficient funding for essential road, stormwater, sewer, water and waste infrastructure upgrades to support increased density.
- Council requests the Government to provide Council a period to identify alternative strategies for growth and infrastructure to meet housing targets in existing Local Housing Strategies, and
- Fund and deliver major infrastructure projects including Mona Vale Road West Widening project, a Bus Rapid Transit system from Chatswood to Dee Why, grade separation of Warringah and Pittwater Roads to support more housing in Brookvale and regional traffic infrastructure to support more housing in Frenches Forest.
1. Council Response to State Government Higher Density Housing Proposal - letter to Mona Vale Residents Association attached below as Download File
2. Final Council Submission to DPHI Explanation of Intended Effects Changes to Low and Mid-rise Housing as Download File
response_-_state_government_higher_density_housing_proposals_-_mona_vale_residents-1.pdf | |
File Size: | 752 kb |
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final_council_submission_to_dphi_-_explanation_of_intended_effect_-_changes_to_low_and_mid_rise_housing-1.pdf | |
File Size: | 568 kb |
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HAVE YOUR SAY: Northern Beaches Council Budget 24/25
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MVRA SUBMISSION TO THE MACKELLAR PEOPLE'S JURY ON HOUSING (Submission also to Dr Sophie Scamps MP Mackellar, Paul Scully MP, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Rory Amon MP Pittwater)
MVRA acknowledges the pressing housing crisis and generally supports planned and innovative social, community, affordable and specialised housing programs and projects.
We consider that Council is in the best position to plan for new housing supply taking into consideration limits of geography, environment, infrastructure and human services. Council should be allowed to complete its Mona Vale Place Plan (Masterplan) that includes a sufficient housing component in accordance with Councils Local Housing Strategy taking into account other strategies and new Tree Canopy Plan.
The local development impacts of Government Low and Mid-rise Housing reforms
would be comparable to that of the Government's TOD (Transport Oriented Development) SEPP that is due to come into effect on 13 May 2024. The difference is that Northern Beaches LGA doesn't have mass transit, it has poor road access, insufficient urban infrastructure and human services and the B-Line bus service is not a full Bus Rapid Transit service but only an enhanced bus service. It was not designed to facilitate more development in Mona Vale or along its service corridor to the city.
MVRA agrees with Council's concerns and objections to the Government's proposed top-down changes to create Low and Mid-rise Housing. Such one-size fits all rules, if imposed via a SEPP (State Environmental Housing Policy), amounts to unplanned growth that is not co-ordinated with available or planned infrastructure and human services. Such a SEPP would negate Council strategic plans and make Local Environmental Plans LEPs and DCPs ineffective controls over inappropriate over-development.
MVRA SUBMISSION & SUGGESTIONS
(Submitted to to Dr Sophie Scamps, MP Mackellar with copies to Paul Scully MP Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Rory Amon MP Pittwater.)
1. Northern Beaches Council is in the best position to implement planned housing growth via its comprehensive Local Strategic Planning Statement and other strategies including the Local Housing Strategy.
2. Support secondary dwellings as a form of affordable rental accommodation. Secondary dwellings (granny flats) have provided a steady supply of extended family and rental accommodation for years. The idea was developed by Pittwater Council and adopted by State Government as part of a State Environmental Planning Policy. Note that credible data on the current supply of secondary dwellings is not available. They are not included as dwellings in official housing data.
3. Policies to encourage house sharing and better use of existing housing floorspace e.g allow pensioners to take in lodgers (cheap rents) without impacting pension benefits.
4. NSW Government to urgently build housing (5-10% of stock) to supplement private sector supply under current economic conditions. It is clear that the private sector is unable to build the housing supply and types of housing required because of significantly reduced construction capacity. This is due to non-planning factors. There are many existing development approvals, sites able to be developed under the existing NSW Housing SEPP and suitably zoned land but without actual development activity taking place because of the deep recession in the construction and building sector.
5. State and Federal Governments to consider Dr. Cameron Murray's "HouseMate" housing scheme that has been inspired by Singapore's PHB housing program.
6. State and Federal Governments to significantly boost the funding of basic urban infrastructure and human services to facilitate housing supply. Timely funding and provision of infrastructure and services are needed to facilitate increased housing supply.
7. State and Federal Governments to support both Government constructed social housing and the "not-for-profit" community housing sector.
8. Federal Government to review and amend taxation rules around negative gearing and capital gains tax along the lines of Dr Hewson's suggestions.
9. Federal Government in consultation with the States to prepare a "National Settlement Strategy". Such strategy to include infrastructure funding for "Regional Development and Decentralization" programs. In addition for NSW and extended Sydney Region the "Six Cities Strategy" should be further developed, supported by a faster train service. In addition the existing "Sydney-Canberra Corridor Regional Strategy" should be reactivated as a major growth corridor supported by a faster rail system. This corridor could easily be activated together with current planned development within the Sydney-Newcastle rail corridor to reduce growth and population pressures within the Sydney metropolitan area.
10. Restrictions on B&B and similar short term stay accommodation.
11. Address the significant vacant housing issue with suitable Federal and State measures.
12. A more sustainable and better co-ordinated immigration program linked to a well resourced "National Settlement Strategy". This would need to be integrated with a national housing program matched by substantial direct investment in social and community housing, other reforms and funds for new urban infrastructure and human services.
13. The policy focus on zoning laws, missing middle density and crude deregulation won't achieve near enough new housing under the current economic situation because of the near collapse of the building and construction sector.
14. Emergency measures are needed now to provide housing and shelter of all types. Regulatory measures will need to be relaxed or recalibrated e.g. tiny houses, caravans, co-living, secondary dwellings, pensioners taking in boarders without loosing pension benefits etc etc.
Attached File
MVRA Submission to Mackellar People's Jury on Housing April 2024:
Download File below.
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In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.