AFTER throwing down the gauntlet to Minister for Planning Kristina Keneally over seniors housing earlier this month, Wingecarribee Council has accused another two State Government departments of arrogant and dictatorial behaviour.
Councillors at Wednesday’s meeting were angered by NSW Housing plans to build affordable housing in Moss Vale and by the Attorney-General Department’s refusal to accept Council’s conditions for subdividing the former Bowral Courthouse land from the Bowral Police Station.
Council is urgently seeking a meeting with Minister for Housing David Borger to discuss its objections to the NSW Housing plan to build 20 affordable housing units on two acres behind “Apex Park” at the northern entrance to Moss Vale.
The project would be developed under the State Environmental Planning Policy for affordable housing and would not require a development application as it will be assessed by the Department of Housing.
Most councillors were unaware of the plan until Cr Stranger raised it as a matter of urgency after a concerned resident brought it to his attention.
Cr Stranger said immediate neighbours were notified of the plans in an unsigned letter, without a letterhead, delivered in a blank envelope.
The same letter was delivered to Council on November 2.
Cr Stranger said the development was incompatible with the surrounding area of mainly one-acre blocks, with no pedestrian access over the bridge to shops and transport.
“If they had approached us and been more conciliatory, Council would have been happy to assist with identifying an area for affordable housing in the shire, but they have chosen not to do that,” Cr Stranger said.
“We’re not against affordable housing. We’ve got some good sites for affordable housing in our shire.
“This is not one of those sites.”
Cr Stranger expressed concern that under the SEPP for affordable housing, similar developments could “mushroom” anywhere in the shire.
Cr Ken Halstead said the NSW housing proposal was the beginning of a rush of policies that would be foisted on local government until the next state election.
“This type of development may be necessary to assist in the provision of affordable rental housing, however the sheer arrogance of the minister defies belief,” he said.
“I can’t think of a site more incompatible. It is next to the railway line and a very noisy road, with a lot of traffic.”
Although the letter stated that Housing NSW had consulted with Wingecarribee Council on the design of the proposed development, director of environment and planning Scott Lee said this was “stretching the truth”.
Council and NSW Housing staff had met to discuss technical matters such as drainage and zoning, but it would be wrong to suggest that Council had a role in designing or promoting the development.
But Cr Halstead said he had a “real problem” that staff did not advise the Mayor and councillors of the NSW Housing meeting.
He called on Labor councillor Graham McLaughlin to raise the matter through the party’s rank and file and apply pressure to the Minister.
“We can’t apply enough pressure as far as I am concerned and it should come from the Labor member.
“...We are not against affordable rental housing if it’s where it is appropriate to be.
“I think it is a very serious issue indeed.”
Cr Juliet Arkwright said the irregularities in the process deserved to be raised in State Parliament.
“It is completely irregular and indicative of a State Government whose arrogance and decadence defies belief,” she said.
Mayor Duncan Gair said Council had gone through a seven-year process to put the shire-wide Local Environmental Plan in place, including identifying land for affordable housing.
Council and residents have until November 23 to respond to the NSW Housing plan.
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