Ward To Lead Delegation To NSW Planning Minister On South Kiama Proposal

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP has confirmed he will lead a delegation to meet with the NSW Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts MP to voice our local community’s strong opposition to the South Kiama re-zoning proposal.

“Former Planning Minister Rob Stokes agreed to an independent review of the decision by the Department of Planning to approve the re-zoning for land at South Kiama. Tomorrow, I’ll join with Kiama Central Precinct Chair Mark Greaves to meet the Minister and the independent reviewer to voice our strong opposition to these concerns,” Mr Ward said.

“Our local community should decide the future of our urban environment, not Sydney bureaucrats and not Sydney developers,” Mr Ward said.

“I will be making it clear to the Minister that this type of reckless re-zoning proposal is simply just not on – it’s not in the interests of our local community and I will not support it.

“We have had enough of our local community being over-developed in recent years and I will not back down in fighting to protect our local community,” Mr Ward said.

Mayor of Kiama Municipal Council Cr Neil Reilly said:    

“I cannot see that this planning proposal delivers any benefit to our community, in fact quite the opposite. It provides a great burden on our road system, on our sewage, on our schools and it is a direct threat to tourism in our town.

“The plan has been refused twice by Council with a strong recommendation not to proceed. Where is the benefit?” Mayor Reilly said.

Kiama Central Precinct Chair Mark Greaves said: “The Kiama community is well aware that good planning policy can lead to quality development with good outcomes for current and future residents.

“There are far too many serious problems with this planning proposal, and these have been clearly articulated by Kiama Municipal Council and Council staff and our local member Gareth Ward MP. We welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues with the Minister,” Mr Greaves said.