Community get their say with planning minister over boarding houses on the northern beaches
KEY members of an anti-boarding house lobby group were set to argue their opposition case at a meeting with Planning Minister Anthony Roberts and Wakehurst MP Brad Hazzard on Wednesday.
Manly
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KEY members of an anti-boarding house lobby group were set to argue their opposition case at a meeting with Planning Minister Anthony Roberts and Wakehurst MP Brad Hazzard on Wednesday.
Mr Hazzard arranged the meeting following local concerns and discussions with northern beaches councillors, who had passed a motion calling for a halt on boarding houses until a review of State Government policy was undertaken. Mayor Michael Regan was also set to attend to push for changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) on affordable housing, which allow developers to override council laws.
The push follows an increase in boarding houses proposed around the incoming hospital at Frenchs Forest.
“One of the big issues is whether or not the current SEPP is appropriate and I have expressed the view that it doesn’t seem to be working for us on the beaches,” Mr Hazzard said. “Obviously we need accommodation for our police, nurses, firemen and others but getting the structure right is critical.
“Otherwise the community will simply thumb their noses at any efforts to get affordable housing.”
Gopala Maurer, chair of Northern Beaches Strategic Community Group, which has led the fight against boarding houses, said they were grateful for the chance to put their case.
“We are hoping we will be able to work with the minister and local government to act quickly to amend the SEPP,” she said. “We believe this is only giving profiteering developers a leg up with ill-designed, fake affordable boarding houses and aged care developments.”
It comes as two more boarding houses have been put before the council.
One in Redmond Rd, Dee Why, would convert a single-dwelling into 16 rooms.
Another in Toronto Ave, Cromer, would convert a home to 22 rooms.
Cr Regan said he hoped to strike the right balance.
“It’s great the State Government has finally come to the party and agreed to meet with us on this issue,” he said.
“We are in full support of affordable housing but it needs to be planned properly.
“I am hopeful the Minister will listen to our concerns and work with us to find a real solution that achieves the same affordable housing ... without sacrificing quiet suburban neighbourhoods.”