Blenheim Park Community Victory

Dear Friends of Blenheim Park

Congratulations! The JRPP has voted unanimously to recommend to the Minister NO HIGH RISE IN BLENHEIM PARK!

The JRPP today resolved to recommend to the Minister against sending the Blenheim Park 16storey high rise proposal to gateway. What this means is that the Minister or his delegate must now decide whether to accept the reucommendation of the JRPP or to make a completely different decision. Of course, the Minister could make a decision contrary to the recommendation of the JRPP but in the words of Sir Humphrey “That would be very courageous indeed, Minister.”

I have attached a copy of the decision to this email.

A lot of people have been working hard to achieve this outcome. Whilst this is not the final final final decision (we still need the Minister to sign off), I think we need to acknowledge a whole lot of people who have worked hard to achieve this outcome:

·         Chris Turner who has been tireless in her efforts to keep the community informed and committed

·         The TWT and NDT for keeping the community informed about this important issue

·         Victor Dominello who cannot be thanked enough for his behind the scenes lobbying of the Planning Minister, most of which we will never hear about

·         Brad Powe for accompanying Chris and I to see Victor Dominello and the Planning Minister

·         The whole Blenheim Park district for maintaining the pressure on Council, Councillors, JRPP and the Minister

·         All of the staff at Ryde Council who have been professional and committed to great outcome for the community

We wait anxiously to see the Ministers decision, but I think we have jumped the major hurdle.

To celebrate our community victory, we will invite the media to come to Blenheim Park this Friday at 4pm. Please come to have a photo and celebrate the great outcome for the community

Kind regards

Councillor Craig Chung

P: 0412 605 597 | E: craig@craigchung.com.au | www.craigchung.com.au 

       

Save Blenheim park, North Ryde Australia

North Ryde is under threat from over development.

STOP FURTHER HIGH RISE 16 story apartments!

PSA Election Notice

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Blenheim Park is once again under attack from High Rise Development

Dear Friends

Here we go again! Blenheim Park is once again under attack from High Rise Development !

ü  The purpose of this email is to alert you to an issue that has come up.

ü  Put Tuesday 28^th June @ 7pm aside to attend the Council meeting to have your say about this very important issue.

ü  Get ready to text, email and ring your Councillors – not yet, I will let you know when is the right time.

ü  Be ready for a photo in the newspaper in 2 weeks time – I will coordinate it with you.

ü  There is nothing more to do today. I will keep you informed.

As you know, Council on 26^th April 2016 unanimously resolved to acquire the 3 houses adjacent to Blenheim Park and to incorporate that land into Blenheim Park. The resolution instructed the general manager to attempt, in the first instance, to acquire the land on commercial terms. That is, the developer would get a fair price for the land as it is currently zoned – low density residential (R2).

This resolution followed Councils 9-1 rejection of the developer proposing a 16 storey development with a floor space ratio (FSR) of 4.3:1.

A rescission motion has been put before Council and will be debated at the next Council meeting on Tuesday 28^th June at 7pm. This rescission motion seeks to overturn the decision to acquire the land and return it to Blenheim Park. If the developer gets his way, he wants to try and convince Councillors that he is hard done by. He will tell Councillors that it isn’t fair that he can’t develop his land into 16 storeys. He will tell Councillors  that they will suffer financial hardship if we don’t allow him to develop the site as he wants. He will tell Councillors that there is something underhanded about the proposal that the community, some Councillors and staff want to preserve the amenity of local residents.

Let’s remember, when a developer buys low density residential home sites (Zoned R2) on the hope that they can rezone the land to high density for home units – it is a purely speculative proposal. It is a risk. It is a commercial decision. There is nothing underhanded about the community saying “Thanks but no thanks”. I am always in favour of reasonable development and allowing a mix of housing in the appropriate locations, but North Ryde has done its bit with the development of Lachlans Line and the North Ryde Station precinct. 

ü  Please feel free to pass on this email to other members of the community who has an interest in the future of Blenheim Park

ü  Keep Tuesday 28^th June aside to attend the Council meeting at 7pm

ü  Get ready to ring, text and email your Councillors

ü  Talk to your neighbours

Councillor Craig Chung

P: 0412 605 597 | E: craig@craigchung.com.au | www.craigchung.com.au 

       

Orson Welles Commentary: Affidavit of Isaac Woodard

I have always loved Orson Welles but now I respect him even more for what he is doing in this radio broadcast from 1946.