Mona Vale Place Plan scrapped by
Northern Beaches Council after
community backlash
Robbie Patterson, Manly Daily
November 18, 2016 3:47pm
- Six-storey units to help create affordable housing
- Late night party plans for Mona Vale
- Just one in 1300 locals wanted six-storeys in Mona Vale
And he took aim at community groups fighting the plan, accusing them of having an anti-amalgamation agenda, and using the place plan to fuel a campaign against the new council.
“I am very disappointed that it has got to this, I had genuinely hoped that the people involved in the different groups that make up Pittwater Forever would engage in an appropriate and balanced discussion,” Mr Persson said.
The plans to revitalise Mona Vale included six-storey residential, affordable housing on top of industrial and increased night life capabilities.
But resident groups had repeatedly expressed fears that the six-storey plans for Mona Vale would extend out to Newport, Avalon, Bayview, Church Point and Palm Beach — turning the peninsula’s north into something similar to the Gold Coast.
The about-face comes as mounting community pressure was leading to a public rally against the council.
Pittwater Forever was an umbrella organisation which merged a number of groups to attempt to stop its council being merged.
The Mona Vale Resident’s Association was one group under that umbrella — it released a flyer and video encouraging residents to protest next Sunday over the plans.
“This plan is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Characterful sketches, lots of references to “community hubs” but its intention is totally clear: to radically increase population,” the flyer said.
Mr Persson told the Manly Daily he would put forward an administrator’s minute at next Tuesday’s council meeting to-restart the community consultation process.
He said he did so to protect the integrity of the new council.
“They (community groups) are persisting to try and label this as some sort of attack by the new council even though they know that is not true. They know this was a Pittwater Council document which means they have another agenda, I am not interested in that battle.”
But resident groups had repeatedly expressed fears that the six-storey plans for Mona Vale would extend out to Newport, Avalon, Bayview, Church Point and Palm Beach — turning the peninsula’s north into something similar to the Gold Coast.
The about-face comes as mounting community pressure was leading to a public rally against the council.
Pittwater Forever was an umbrella organisation which merged a number of groups to attempt to stop its council being merged.
The Mona Vale Resident’s Association was one group under that umbrella — it released a flyer and video encouraging residents to protest next Sunday over the plans.
“This plan is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Characterful sketches, lots of references to “community hubs” but its intention is totally clear: to radically increase population,” the flyer said.
Mr Persson told the Manly Daily he would put forward an administrator’s minute at next Tuesday’s council meeting to-restart the community consultation process.
He said he did so to protect the integrity of the new council.
“They (community groups) are persisting to try and label this as some sort of attack by the new council even though they know that is not true. They know this was a Pittwater Council document which means they have another agenda, I am not interested in that battle.”
A new place plan would now be decided upon by an elected council.
But the residents association, led by Marcia Rackham, has promised to still hold the rally on Sunday, November 27 in Mona Vale.
“Our problem with the council’s statement is that history has shown they pretend to consult and then do exactly what they want. In other words, we just don’t trust them,” Ms Rackham said.
“We are suspicious because we have heard all this before,”
Mr Persson has consistently rebuffed claims that medium density up to six-storeys would be anywhere north of Mona Vale.
He has also argued that the six-storeys were setback from the street.
Pittwater MP and Planning Minister Rob Stokes praised Mr Persson’s move.
“I am delighted that the administrator has listened to the community,” Mr Stokes said. “It is clear to me there were significant concerns with the plan. And I would encourage council to reflect on those concerns.”
See Article
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/mona-vale-place-plan-scrapped-by-northern-beaches-council-after-community-backlash/news-story/d96e2e387cb78823ebcc313a3b7ec565
But the residents association, led by Marcia Rackham, has promised to still hold the rally on Sunday, November 27 in Mona Vale.
“Our problem with the council’s statement is that history has shown they pretend to consult and then do exactly what they want. In other words, we just don’t trust them,” Ms Rackham said.
“We are suspicious because we have heard all this before,”
Mr Persson has consistently rebuffed claims that medium density up to six-storeys would be anywhere north of Mona Vale.
He has also argued that the six-storeys were setback from the street.
Pittwater MP and Planning Minister Rob Stokes praised Mr Persson’s move.
“I am delighted that the administrator has listened to the community,” Mr Stokes said. “It is clear to me there were significant concerns with the plan. And I would encourage council to reflect on those concerns.”
See Article
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/mona-vale-place-plan-scrapped-by-northern-beaches-council-after-community-backlash/news-story/d96e2e387cb78823ebcc313a3b7ec565
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