Kent Johns’ claim (theleader.com.au, August 25) that I’m personally responsible for the 749 units being built on the Brick Pit site is just plain nonsense.
Firstly, his claim is a desperate attempt to deflect community attention from the fact that decisions to increase the number of units on the disused Brick Pit site from 280 to 429 in 2012, and then to 749 in February 2015 were both made by the Liberal State Government’s Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) - after I’d retired from office.
The initial 280 units proposed for the long-disused Brick Pit site in 2003 was part of the Kirrawee Master Plan, supported by the council’s Economic Development Committee and adopted as part of the Shire’s then LEP.
The Master Plan itself derived from the Kirrawee Living Centre Project launched in 2001, and followed 20 months of extensive community consultation and expert repors.
The plan for the brick pit site also included employment land and a dedicated public park for 10% of the site.
Secondly, in my letter to the Leader of 20 November 2007, I made it clear that I expected the Brick Pit to be developed in accordance with the detailed Master Plan- just as I did later to Minister Sartor. That has always been my position, regardless of Mr John’s posturing.
Thirdly, and contrary to all his assertions, Mr Johns is on the public record as attempting to support the developer’s application to increase the number of units on the Brick Pit site from 429 to 749.
During a council debate on August 5, 2014 – before the increase to 749 units was approved by the PAC- Kent Johns moved to increase the floor space ratio (FSR) for the Brick Pit site.
Council approval would not only have only allowed an increase in the number of units there, but would have effectively supported the developer’s (ultimately successful) application to the PAC.
To my knowledge, Kent Johns is the only shire councillor who has attempted to increase the density and number of units on the Brick Pit site since the Kirrawee Living Centres Project began in 2001.
While Mr Johns might say publicly (as he has) that “the council” opposes the Brick Pit development, that clearly, does not include himself personally.
Barry Collier, Candidate for B Ward
