New Planning Minister promises to provide clarity on Frenchs Forest rezone
New Planning Minister Rob Stokes has vowed to provide clarity for the long-suffering residents of Frenchs Forest, who have been waiting for land surrounding Northern Beaches Hospital to be rezoned.
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New Planning Minister Rob Stokes has vowed to provide clarity for the long-suffering residents of Frenchs Forest, who have been waiting for land surrounding Northern Beaches Hospital to be rezoned.
The drawn-out rezoning process surrounding the $600 million health facility has left families in limbo since it was first exhibited by Northern Beaches Council in March last year.
But residents like Tim Pace, who spoke to the Manly Daily late last year, said they had been living with uncertainty for more than seven years, since the rezoning was first mooted.
The Karingal Cres resident most recently led a push for the State Government to make a decision before Christmas last year.
“It’s been seven years,” he told the Manly Daily at the time.
“In that time a hospital has been built, half a billion has been spent on roads, much to the disturbance of the residents, but where is the accommodation and infrastructure that was supposed to be here for that new hospital?”
When the plans were first mooted many residents saw dollar signs from an upzoning. But after years of construction and delayed roadworks, they just want clarity.
Their wait appears to be nearing an end, with Mr Stokes — also Pittwater MP — marking his first day in his new role to by saying he would make the hospital structure plan’s finalisation a priority.
When asked what his message was to long-suffering residents of Frenchs Forest he said: “I promise, there will be action.
“I am keen to resolve it for you as quickly as I can, I want to understand what the issues are that are holding the structure plan up, and work on the best way to resolve them.”
Mr Stokes’ first meeting as planning minister was set to take part on Wednesday, with Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan and its CEO Ray Brownlee.
“They are wanting to discuss a whole series of development issues across the northern beaches, particularly what is going on at Frenchs Forest,” Mr Stokes said.
The structure plan put forward by the council in 2016 would have moved The Forest High next to Warringah Aquatic Centre to allow a new town centre where the school sits.
On the school site a town centre with shop-top development up to 12-storeys high would be permitted.
“We can finalise it,” Mr Stokes said.
“There has been uncertainty there, but (Wakehurst MP) Brad Hazzard has been clear, and Michael Regan has been clear that the residents have lived with uncertainty for too long.
“They just want to know what the future looks like.
“The council has done a lot of planning work.
“My view on this is these (planning) processes are best left to the council.”
Mr Stokes said the state needed to be involved in the process as there were several strategic areas such as health and public transport that made the suburb vital.
In particular, was the election promise to build a service similar to the B-Line from Dee Why to Chatswood.
“There are some staging issues, as in the roadworks (around the new hospital) need to be done first,” he said.
‘You have to determine the public transport strategy and then you can facilitate whatever development might be envisaged.
Mr Stokes said topics of discussion with the council would also include contentious boarding house policy which allows multi-dwelling buildings to be built in areas they would usually not be permitted through affordable housing and seniors living laws.
Late last year the proposed land release for more than 3000 homes at Ingleside was scrapped due to bushfire concerns.
Mr Stokes said he would also be looking into the future of the suburb.
Mayor Michael Regan said it was a positive step forward for Frenchs Forest residents.
“We need the minister,” he said.
“It is great the minister has the previous portfolio of education and as a local member understands the frustration for the residents, understand they want to get cracking and get some certainty.”
He said the fact the Beaches Link tunnel and the east to west B-Line were going ahead following the March 23 State Election was a positive sign for the rezoning.
“Now all these pieces of the puzzle seem to be there, the minster will hopefully be able to help us get some priority round making this thing happen.”
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