MANLY DAILY 14 JULY 2018
Behind the Battles Raging on the Beaches
LOOK around and you'll see battles being waged in nearly every electorate between residents' action groups and the state government. From Manly to Palm Beach, the war zones are green spaces, open spaces, heritage buildings and community facilities.
The terms of conflict are consistent the government is attempting to override local opposition to overdevelopment in underserviced northern beaches suburbs. Mainly through the regional planning panel set up by the Government, even going against expert advice on specific developments from their local MP and their previous Planning Minister.
The immediate factors are the back-to-back victories (via the planning panels) of a business first (people second) Baird/Berejiklian government, which decided in 2016 to forcibly merge councils and appoint administrators to oversee decision-making.
Stripped of local representation through their council, residents were forced to self-organise to oppose reckless developments. The deeper trends are the subject of academic debate. How does the modern individualised subject who no longer sees himself or herself as belonging to a neatly identifiable bloc choose to engage in politics?
Frequently, it seems, by joining a residents' action group. The common refrain by those whose commercial interest is interrupted by these groups is to accuse them of NIIVIBYism, naive tree-huggers unaware of economic imperatives.
Developers argue that they are responding to demand fuelled by Australia's soaring ageing population with little regard for biodiversity such as the $200 million Bayview Golf course development of 95 units. 4 storeys high in a high priority wildlife corridor with removal of 252 trees to be determined by none other than the Sydney North Planning Panel in August.
Peggy Craig. Bayview
The terms of conflict are consistent the government is attempting to override local opposition to overdevelopment in underserviced northern beaches suburbs. Mainly through the regional planning panel set up by the Government, even going against expert advice on specific developments from their local MP and their previous Planning Minister.
The immediate factors are the back-to-back victories (via the planning panels) of a business first (people second) Baird/Berejiklian government, which decided in 2016 to forcibly merge councils and appoint administrators to oversee decision-making.
Stripped of local representation through their council, residents were forced to self-organise to oppose reckless developments. The deeper trends are the subject of academic debate. How does the modern individualised subject who no longer sees himself or herself as belonging to a neatly identifiable bloc choose to engage in politics?
Frequently, it seems, by joining a residents' action group. The common refrain by those whose commercial interest is interrupted by these groups is to accuse them of NIIVIBYism, naive tree-huggers unaware of economic imperatives.
Developers argue that they are responding to demand fuelled by Australia's soaring ageing population with little regard for biodiversity such as the $200 million Bayview Golf course development of 95 units. 4 storeys high in a high priority wildlife corridor with removal of 252 trees to be determined by none other than the Sydney North Planning Panel in August.
Peggy Craig. Bayview
FACEBOOK POSTS
Miranda Korzy Great letter! People tired of being ignored and our community’s needs and environment trampled over.
Janet Forrester Though why is our culture all about competition? I hate terms such as "team-player", "level-playing field", "competitive edge", etc. Why don't we have a culture where we work together rather than compete. Life would be easier, we would get more done and we would be happier - in my belief. As Jan Gehl says "it is easy (and cheap) to be sweet to people".
Miranda Korzy That’s a big topic but as we lose more and more public services there’s increased competition for scarcer paid services - pitting us against one another.
Dale Kentwell It is the environment that the economy depends on ......
Mark Horton This is an excellent analysis by Peggy Craig.
Pru Wawn The best way to reclaim democracy is by becoming active in your local community. Only people power can defeat corporate power.
Janet Forrester Though why is our culture all about competition? I hate terms such as "team-player", "level-playing field", "competitive edge", etc. Why don't we have a culture where we work together rather than compete. Life would be easier, we would get more done and we would be happier - in my belief. As Jan Gehl says "it is easy (and cheap) to be sweet to people".
Miranda Korzy That’s a big topic but as we lose more and more public services there’s increased competition for scarcer paid services - pitting us against one another.
Dale Kentwell It is the environment that the economy depends on ......
Mark Horton This is an excellent analysis by Peggy Craig.
Pru Wawn The best way to reclaim democracy is by becoming active in your local community. Only people power can defeat corporate power.