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DEE WHY NEEDN'T WAKE UP TO A TWIN TOWER SHOCKER - July 28th 2008
Wake Up Warringah’s independent Mayoral candidate Michael Regan is leading the charge to stop the controversial 18 and 17 storey Dee Why towers from ever seeing the light of day.
Mr Regan will call on fellow candidates to join him in lobbying the State Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor not to gazette the proposed changes to the Warringah Local Environment Plan that will effectively give the green light to the developers.
“This is not yet a done deal,” said Mr Regan. “The next council still has an opportunity to save Dee Why from this unwanted development. I’m calling on my fellow candidates to join me in demanding that Frank Sartor listens to the people who are opposed to this going ahead and who are concerned about the ramifications on future development in the area.”
“The best hope for the future of Dee Why and Warringah is for the 10 new councillors to unite against this flawed planning process and make resistance to the scheme too hard for Frank Sartor to ignore.”
“Almost a thousand local residents were so outraged by the proposed development that they made individual submissions to Council. I’ve been contacted by others expressing similar concerns. A building of 18 storeys simply has no place anywhere on the Northern Beaches.”
“I want all candidates to join with me in committing to making sure the Minister is told that the proposed LEP is simply unacceptable.”
In a report presented to Warringah Council earlier this year, an indication was made that the Minister will rush through approval of the changes by the end of July. However, with those changes yet to be gazetted, Mr Regan says there is still time to act for a better solution for Dee Why.
“Candidates of all affiliations need to show the Minister that we are united on this and that the voice of the people can’t be ignored,” he said.
“The Administrator pushed these changes through in the face of strong opposition from the community. It’s time now for the community’s representatives to step forward and demand that the plan be rejected for the over-development it is.”
“Instead, we need a comprehensive masterplan for all of Dee Why that looks to correct the complete disaster that was LEP 2000.”
“Beyond the planning issues, Wake Up has floated some ideas to the Dee Why community about how to inject life into the suburb. My focus for the area is on more than just high-rise buildings on two blocks of land. Proper planning and consultation with local residents will deliver a result we can all be proud of.”
“If elected, the Wake Up councillors will explore closing the beachfront to cars and creating an art precinct along the promenade. We want a community shuttle bus, to help free up parking and alleviate traffic congestion in Dee Why. We want free internet access along the commercial strip on Pittwater Road in the cafes to stimulate business there. We have ideas for combining the library with a council customer service outlet and moving council Chambers to a more effective business area.”
“Wake Up thinks Dee Why deserves a better cultural emphasis to reflect the diversity of its residents. There could be a Tibetan, an Italian, an Islander, a Korean and other precincts created, to properly enrich this important but so far ignored characteristic of the suburb.”
“Planning the new Dee Why is an opportunity to create a real sense of place and we need the commitment of innovative, broadminded and bipartisan Councillors who can work together – and with the community – to bring that vision to life. The first step is unity among the 2008 candidates and a commitment to doing everything possible to stop this out of character over-development from going ahead.”
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