Phone 4342 2070 Fax 4342 2071

2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Call to remove zoning

 

Save Our Central Coast Suburbs (SOCCS) has called for medium density zoning to be removed on the Peninsula immediately, following a recent decision to adopt such a strategy by Gosford Council)

According to SOCCS member Ms Shirley Drake, the Peninsula has seen houses, gardens and mature trees being replaced with villas and concrete over the past 15 years.

Despite rain on Saturday, December 8, 16 people walked Woy Woy streets to highlight these issues to citizens.

A reading of Denis Kevan's poem "Concreto" preceded the walk.

The main focus of the walk was to demonstrate how few trees remained for skin cancer protection, shade and coolness, said Ms Drake.

"Rainwater that once filtered into the water table now drains out to sea.

"Concrete and high brick fences cause radiant heat which necessitates the use of air conditioning."

She said these villas were "dumb buildings" because of these environmental problems they created.

To prevent more of them being built, strong development initiatives were needed.

"Unfortunately the State Government's Land and Environment Court and the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning policy have limited Gosford Council's interventive control.

"We need a State Government which supports Gosford Council's desire to have less villas per site area and to improve building design.

"We need a council that has the courage and the will to use its development controls, as did Ku-ring-gai Council."

Media release, December 8