David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to address a very serious issue in my electorate—namely, Canterbury Bankstown Council's proposal to create massive changes to zoning rules across many suburbs in my electorate. The council is seeking to change existing zoning to allow for large-scale high-rise development. We all acknowledge that some development is necessary to accommodate a growing population in Sydney, but it must be proportionate and appropriate, and these proposed changes are extraordinarily disproportionate and inappropriate.

To put that in perspective, under the proposal, the suburb of Padstow could see up to an additional 11,000 residents, close to doubling its size; the population of East Hills could more than double; in Revesby, close to 7,000 additional residents would be possible; and, in Panania, well over 4,000 additional residents could be accommodated under the plan. These are radical changes which will very fundamentally change the character of these suburbs in the southern part of Bankstown. The proposal from the council disproportionately affects the southern suburbs in the Bankstown region, and in my view that is entirely inappropriate.

It is critical that the New South Wales Department of Planning does not allow this bad plan to go ahead. I am asking New South Wales planning minister Rob Stokes to ensure that this excessive plan is not allowed to be implemented. If the plan is implemented, the character of southern Bankstown will change permanently, and that must not occur. (Time expired)