Taylor Street protest
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Another award for Norma
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Affordable housing focus
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13 NOV 2021
Rezoning decision New for to be reviewed era Blue
Opposition to the South Kiama rezoning decision has been heard in Macquarie Street, with the Minister for Planning, Rob Stokes, calling for an independent peer review of the Department’s recommendation. While protesters bussed up from Kiama were outside Macquarie Street making their point known, the Chair of the Kiama Central Precinct, Mark Greaves, heard that a zoom meeting had been arranged with the Planning Minister to hear their concerns first hand. The meeting was arranged by Mark Croxford, leading the Your Community Candidates team for the Council election, using his connections in the Liberal Party. He is a Country Representative on the NSW State Executive. His intervention is believed to have been necessary given Gareth Ward MP is now sitting on the cross benches and does not have the influence he once had. The meeting between Mr Stokes, Mr Greaves, Mr Ward, Mr Croxford and two senior State planners discussed the disconnect between the assessment of the Department of Planning and Council on the planning proposal’s site specific and strategic merit. These merit tests form
the basis for approval of a proposal. “There is understandable concern that local government planning departments and State government planners have totally different interpretations of what strategic merit means for planning proposals,” said Mr Greaves. “The process needs change given that the proponent has the right to appeal local planning decisions, and yet Council and the community have no appeal mechanism. “This has led to confusion, distress and disbelief in the community. “Minister Stokes said that he did not want the planning process to cause those concerns to members of the community, and he agreed that there needs to be transparency and community engagement in the planning process.” “At the meeting, we presented community concerns with respect to the lack of strategic merit; lack of supporting infrastructure; inconsistency with local, regional and state planning documents; the current lack of a forward-looking local housing strategy; and the impact of the planning proposal on the village character of Kiama,” said Mr Ward. “As a result of our joint
Haven
advocacy, we successfully convinced the Minister to reconsider this proposal. Minister Stokes has agreed to an independent review of the Department’s recommendation.” Mr Ward will work on the Terms of Reference for the Independent Review, with input from Central Precinct. The property will not be subject to rezoning until the independent review is completed. “The Minister and DPIE staff are welcome to visit Kiama and view the site, and also look at Bombo Quarry to understand the many future land use benefits that this
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site can provide,” said Mr Greaves. He thanked Mr Croxford for organising the meeting, as well as ackowledging the work of many other community members in opposing the approval. “Many people in our community have made great contributions in time and expertise over the last five years on this issue,” he said. The developer behind the South Kiama Planning Proposal, Graham Morcom of White Constructions, has expressed his frustration at the delay that will be caused to the rezoning process. “It is Minister Stokes’ pre-
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rogative to request independent peer review of his own department, after all he is in charge and that is part of the process,” said Mr Morcom in a statement. “The planning proposal has been reviewed three times by NSW local and state government/agencies and has been determined under the Environmental Planning Assessment Act that strategic merit and site specific merit has been accepted and recommended that the LEP be amended. “After three different groups of review one must assume nothing further to see there.”
Blue Haven Illawarra has its new management and governance in place, with the inaugural Chief Operating Officer, Kerrin Hunter, starting work and the members of the first Blue Haven Advisory Board approved at an Extraordinary Meeting of Council before the caretaker period commenced. Ms Hunter has more than 25 years’ experience in the corporate and aged care sector in diverse roles including nursing, human resources and regional management, as well as deputy CEO of another large aged care organisation. Council’s CEO Jane Stroud said Ms Hunter’s understanding of the different roles in aged care, from front line to leadership positions was invaluable. “Kerrin stood out from what was a strong field of candidates with her passion for aged care, enthusiasm and strong local knowledge. “She has a fabulous mix of clinical and management qualifications and experience that stand her in good stead for the role, and add real value to Blue Haven’s work.” continued on p12
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