Greater Sydney Commission to investigate all planning matters in Ryde, Macquarie Park
Chief Commissioner Lucy Turnbull has written to Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirming she will lead the Greater Sydney Commission’s immediate investigation into all planning matters in Ryde and the Macquarie Park business park.
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The three big wigs of the Greater Sydney Commission will lead an immediate investigation into the development explosion in Ryde amid opposition claims it is “just an election stunt”.
Chief Commissioner Lucy Turnbull has written to Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirming the planning probe would focus on the Macquarie Park business park and its broader impact on the Ryde community.
In the letter, obtained by the Northern District Times, Mrs Turnbull said the commission would work with the NSW Planning Department to “understand the work it has been doing in this area over the past several years”.
“I confirm that the commission will conduct an assurance review of planning in the Ryde LGA, with a particular focus on the Macquarie Park investigation area,” she wrote. “Our review should include an assessment of the current situation and any steps the commission would recommend be taken.”
The former Sydney Lord Mayor will be joined on the review panel by Deputy Chief Commissioner Geoff Roberts and North District Commissioner Dr Deborah Dearing. They will make their preliminary findings in February, before handing down a “detailed assessment” in May.
The commission’s intervention came after Ryde Liberal MP Victor Dominello wrote to Ms Berejiklian last month calling for a review into all planning matters in Ryde, where the local council will tonight vote on a controversial Meriton towers proposal at Macquarie Park.
Mr Dominello yesterday welcomed the commission’s “planning insurance policy” for the community.
“Ryde residents are legitimately concerned that development is outpacing social infrastructure such as roads, schools and parks,” the Finance Minister said. “The review will put the issue of development under the microscope and prioritise the interests of the community and families.”
Ryde Labor Mayor Jerome Laxale accused Mr Dominello of “just another desperate election stunt to blame anyone but himself for his government’s own planning woes”.
“All the planning problems we have in Ryde exist because of priority precincts and medium density housing code, and the 7600 housing target that the State Government imposed on us,” said Cr Laxale, who will challenge Mr Dominello at the state election in March.
“The government started the Macquarie Park Strategic Review back in 2016, and we’re still waiting for it to be done.
“This is just another sideshow by Mr Dominello for turning Ryde into a developers’ Disneyland.”
Meanwhile, Cr Laxale has revealed the Meriton proposal for 112 Talavera Rd high-rise development has been scaled down from 60 to 42 storeys.
Despite this, the Mayor says he’ll oppose it at tonight’s extraordinary meeting.
“I’ll be encouraging other councillors to take a stand against it, too,” Cr Laxale said.
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