A new petition has been launched calling on Georges River Council to stop pushing through major rezoning changes to Mortdale and Beverly Hills during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The petition is in response to Georges River Council's draft Beverly Hills Town Centre Master Plan which includes up to 10-storey buildings in the commercial centre and four-storey units in surrounding streets to create 1500 new units and the draft Mortdale Town Centre Master Plan which will create 969 new units.
The public exhibition period for the draft Mortdale Master Plan closes on Friday, September 24 while the council deferred consideration of the draft Beverly Hills Master Plan for a Councillor workshop at the July council meeting.
Councillors were concerned about proposals in the plan for the compulsory acquisition of a number of properties in Beverly Hills and also late amendments to increase heights from eight to ten-storeys at sites along Kings Georges Road.
Bob Jones, who launched the petition said the consultation for both these draft Master Plans has occurred during the Covid-19 restrictions.
"This has prevented the community from meeting to discuss and spread awareness and to consult with Council staff during the exhibition periods of both Master Plans," said Mr Jones who is a former director of environmental services with Kogarah Council and is a candidate for the Georges River Residents and Ratepayers Party.
"This interaction is extremely important, as these plans will have long-term, drastic impacts on everybody who lives in Beverly Hills and Mortdale," Mr Jones said.
"The Beverly Hills plan also involves the extensive compulsory acquisition of people's homes.
"Both Master Plans will generate more traffic congestion on our local roads, parking problems, overshadowing and loss of privacy.
"Schools and public transport are already at capacity. Georges River Council is meeting its housing targets, so there is no need for the council to accelerate these Master Plans during the current COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
The petition calls on Georges River Council to cease the progression of both the Beverly Hills and Mortdale Master Plans until such time as COVID-19 restrictions are completely lifted to allow residents full face-to-face consultation with each other and with Council officers and also to attend public convened meetings so that the community can be fully informed.
The petition us at:
Submissions on the draft Mortdale Master Plan close on Friday, September 24 at 5pm.
To find out more information, view the draft Master Plan or make a submission go to : yoursay.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
