Councillors, don't hide
At the public meeting on May 17 organised by the United Kogarah City Residents Association, not one elected councillor attended to speak to the residents about the new city plan.
Hearing incidents about enquiry-handling regarding the new city plan was unsettling and most unsatisfactory to hear.
It sounded like Kogarah Council will stonewall, will steamroll their work, irrespective of the residents' requests and the legislated duties of the council.
One resident in the audience shouted out: "How to get rid of the council?"
Yet I, along with the residents, elected the councillors to represent us on Kogarah Council.
They're not meant to hide from us, avoid us and only work in their private office.
I signed a petition for a public hearing arranged by the council. Failure by councillors to promote a public hearing, meet with us, answer our questions does not bode well for the next local elections.
Terry Scott, Kogarah
Residents come first
I am opposed to the Kogarah new city plan, particularly the proposed high-rise. I would suggest seven levels is adequate for the CBD and four levels along the highway and railway parade.
This is why I oppose it:
1. The character of Kogarah will be adversely changed. The proposed high-rise will be ugly, the streets will be crowded and over-shadowing will be a problem. We should not be following the Hurstville example. Our aim should be attractive buildings, spacious streetscape and a cosmopolitan lifestyle.
2. The scale of the development is unnecessary. The stated aim of the plan is to provide accommodation for seniors downsizing, children leaving home but wanting to stay in the area and key workers in the area. Also, the numbers are inflated. The plan is based on providing accommodation for an extra 1000 people per year for 17 years.
But this is not taking into account that the existing rate of DA approvals under the present height restrictions would meet a large percentage of that number.
3. This high-rise plan will not provide more affordable housing. The laws of supply and demand dictate that increasing the supply will cause prices to fall.
But this is only true with a relatively fixed demand. Once overseas investment becomes involved, demand is almost limitless and prices will rise and residents will have to resign themselves to renting, not buying.
It seems to me that the plan is subservient to the demands of investment rather than to the good of the community.
Kogarah Council should be representing the interests of residents, not the interests of developers and investors.
Dr Terry O'Connor, Kogarah
