PETITION

FOR INCREASED POWERS FOR LOCAL COUNCILS TO DETERMINE AND REFUSE APPLICATIONS FOR BOARDING HOUSES

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales.

The Petition of residents of the Sutherland Shire.

Brings to the attention of the House that the State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009, allows few grounds on which councils may refuse applications for boarding houses. A recent application for a two storey boarding house at 58-60 Karimbla Road, Miranda (DA13/0768) comprising 23 rooms with at least 40 residents sharing rooms on what is now land occupied by two family homes will adversely affect the character, safety, social stability and amenity of local communities and become a blueprint for accommodation in the Sutherland Shire.

The undersigned petitioners therefore ask the Legislative Assembly to urge the NSW Government to amend the State Planning Legislation to:-

1. give Local Councils increased power to determine applications for boarding houses under their own planning guidelines including consideration of social impacts.
2. require advertising of Applications for boarding houses and;
3. require wider neighbour notification and broader community consultation.