New city commissioner’s plea for developments with character
In her first interview, the new Eastern City Commissioner has told how she will focus on creating and maintaining great places to live.
Southern Courier
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THE woman responsible for housing an extra 340,000 residents in our area over the next 18 years says every decision she makes will focus on creating and maintaining great places to live.
Dr Deborah Dearing last month replaced Maria Atkinson as the eastern city commissioner.
“This is a great place to live and work, that is what Sydney is known for,” she said. “I will work hard to make sure every new proposal increases amenity and character and doesn’t dumb things down and makes everything homogeneous. It must increase the quality of the place.
“That is at the heart of every decision for me. That has to be our focus.”
Dr Dearing is also the north district commissioner, but she denied the twin roles would be a disadvantage for the east.
“To be frank I think there are benefits. The north and east share many common issues. I also think continuity is important. I’ve worked closely with Maria over the last three years and understand a lot of the issues.”
Dr Dearing’s predesecor, Maria Atkinson, was named by the Southern Courier to be the most influential woman in Sydney’s southeast.
One of the key challenges is housing and affordability, Dr Dearing said.
“We have built a lot of houses and it hasn’t made it more affordable,” Dr Dearing said. “We need to look at other mechanisms and instruments used successfully in other countries.”
She said it was time to look at an affordable rental housing levy which would be paid by developers to help provide affordable homes.
“We are not anywhere near a solution at this point in time. We need to do something.”
She said overdevelopment was a problem for communities across Sydney and said it is key planners look at the types of houses they are building.
“It is not about building apartments and high rise everywhere.
“We need to look at what is needed where and make sure the development is right for the area.”
Dr Dearing said she believed the dream of living in a 30-minute (to work) city was still deliverable, provided industrial land close to residential centres is protected.
She is yet to take a view on the Botany cruise terminal but said it was something she would be looking at.
“I don’t know what the answer is, I know there are conflicting opinions. There is enormous growth in cruise ships, not just the industry but the actual size of the ships and Sydney Harbour is not able to cope. It is something I will look at.”
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