THE NSW Department of Planning has approved Kogarah Council’s new planning proposal to change Kogarah into a busier and higher density city.
The department issued a determination on December 15 for the proposal for the new city plan to proceed to community consultation.
But given that the council does not meet until the end of February, the public exhibition period is unlikely to be set until then.
A council spokeswoman said that the council would start consultation to ‘‘ensure that the community is provided with a range of opportunities to provide feedback’’.
This gives the objectors — the purpose-formed United Kogarah Local Residents Association (UKLRA) — more time to plan their fight against what they see as the amenity-destroying overdevelopment of their city.
Most Kogarah councillors voted last July for the draft planning proposal — an amendment to Kogarah’s local environmental plan (LEP) 2012 — and sent it for review to the planning minister.
The plan would accommodate an extra 17,400 residents by 2031, which is in line with the government’s metropolitan housing strategy.
The major centres of Kogarah and Hurstville (Ormonde Road end) would be allowed 9-12 storey developments, with existing low-density areas immediately to the north of the Kogarah centre identified for 10-storey residential flat development.
A 5-7 storey limit was proposed for most of the commercial centres and for the high-density residential zones immediately around those centres, close to public transport routes.
The zones include the Princes Highway, around Blakehurst shopping centre, from Jubilee Avenue to Plant Street, Carlton, and areas near shopping centres such as Ramsgate, South Hurstville, Allawah and Carlton.
Multi-unit buildings of 5-7 storeys would be allowed at some waterfront areas near Tom Uglys Bridge.
Dual occupancy and independent seniors living accommodation was proposed in most areas.
Only councillor Lachlan McLean opposed the plan.
He said it did not strike the right balance and that roads would be gridlocked and struggled to cope.
OPPOSITION
THE United Kogarah Local Residents Association has been gathering strength.
Spokesman Tony Soubris said it was imperative that the community had a say as to ‘‘what type of community living, transport links and recreational facilities and amenities we would like to see during our lifetime and that of our children’’.
‘‘Secondly, the council and councillors need to be reminded that their paramount duty is to represent the community and provide LEPs and DCPs that reflect what the local community really wants and expects from its elected civic officials.’’
Is the new city plan right for Kogarah?