Dear OFAG Team,
On behalf of Jason Falinski, our Mayor Candidate, the Warringah08 Group, and as the C Ward Candidate, it's my pleasure to answer your questions.
1. Our position in relation to the current LEP for Oxford Falls Valley is that it protects the Valley from this type of large scale development to a point, as proven by the IHAP and Dick Persson rejection of this d/a. It does the same for other "threatened" areas in Warringah, such as Oxford Falls (Morgan Rd, Lizard Rock), Belrose Rural, Terrey Hills and Duffys Forest. It does not however protect any area from the rapacious nature of the current Labor Government and their developer friends with their large financial contributions. As I'm sure you are well aware the Planning Minister can "spot rezone" any area, as well as approve any project deemed of "State Significance". At the time of writting we believe that Mr. Frank Sartor will not be the Planning Minister of the new NSW Govt, but we do not hold any hope that a newly appointed Minister will be any different.
The challenge for the new Council will be the mapping of the new legislation and rules onto the current LEP. It is our stated objective that we'll be paying special attention to changes potentially affecting areas such as the ones above named.
2. I am well aware of the fight the OFAG Team has conducted in the last few years. For your information, I've been on the Executive of the Frenchs Forest (South) Action Group for the last 4 years, conducting a similar fight to yours, albeit on a smaller scale. I refer to the Bantry Bay development. We lost in the L & E Court in the last couple of months. I also know the area in question very well. We will NOT support the current proposal, or any other large scale development in the area in question. We are not against development "per si", but the fact remains that as per the current Strategic Plan for the Northeast Region we do not need large scale development in Warringah. In fact we were running 190% above target as of July this year, i.e. we were developing double of what State Government requires for the Region. In your particular case, other considerations such as traffic, infrastructure, environment, are also critical. And the bottom line is that this kind of development will have a drastic impact in the character of our area, will change it forever, and I for one, am not convinced that this is desirable. It will also considerably reduce our "open areas", and we don't have that much available anymore.
3. Absolutely. Enclosed please find a media release calling for the protection of Lizard Rock [OFAG Note: available on request]. We recognise that permanent protection of certain areas is not an easy issue to address. We will be working with our local MP's to not only lobby the State Government, but also to find permanent solutions. In a number of cases, we are already working with Jonathan O'Dea (Davidson), Brad Hazzard (Wakehurst) and Rob Stokes (Pittwater). If elected, we'll continue to do so.
4. Absolutely. In our view the ultimate decision for a proposal that so clearly and drastically transforms the character of an area should be made by the Community via its elected representatives, i.e. Mayor and Councillors. Having said that, we also support an Independent Panel of experts (IHAP) that provides advise and recommendation to Council. But we do not support an executive body of bureaucrats making the final decision. We also recognise projects of "State Significance", but the criteria for such projects has to be very carefully defined. We fail to see how the current proposal for the Valley can even remotely be described as "State Significant".
I enclose media releases on Lizard Rock and a letter from Bill Gillies, President of our Action Group. [OFAG Note: available on request]
Please don't hesitate in contacting me directly if further information is desired, or if you would like me to expand on any of the above points.
Many thanks for the opportunity.
Best Regards
Jose Menano-Pires
C Ward Candidate
Warringah08: a new beginning