Pittwater Life April 2017 Issue

Editorial
Planning destiny in our hands
The amalgamation of
Pittwater Council into the
broader Northern Beaches
Council is still a bitter pill
swallowed by many local
residents.
Uppermost in opponents’
minds for almost a year has
been the issue of development
and the concern that planning
laws in place outside Pittwater’s
former bounderies would be
forced upon us.
The classic case in point is
the brouhaha surrounding
the Mona Vale Place Plan and
the potential for six-storey
development.
So it comes as blue sky relief
to offset March’s miserable rain
that the NSW Government has
made a landmark decision that
will ensure future strategic
planning falls squarely on the
shoulders of councillors elected
in specific wards throughout
the NB Council region (full
coverage see page 14).
Come September, you will
get to vote for councillor
candidates in the Pittwater
and Narrabeen wards who will
be responsible for the level of
density development we adopt
going forward.
Woah! Isn’t that essentially
what we all wanted/hoped
would be retained prior to
amalgamation?
Community Group Pittwater
Forever is cautiously optimistic
and supportive. Local
Chambers of Commerce like it.
It’s now up to the government
to deliver on its promise.
Speaking of the council
election, Pittwater Forever has
announced it will provide all
candidates with a questionnaire
to fill out to determine their
suitability to represent the
people of Pittwater.
That’s admirable, but
we hope it doesn’t prevent
some potentially valuable
contributors to our community
from putting up their hands for
fear of not falling into line with
the PFE manifesto.
– Nigel Wall
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 3