A local MP has backed Minto residents opposed to overdevelopment in the suburb.
It comes after a group of Minto residents contacted Member for Macquarie Fields Anoulack Chanthivong regarding their opposition to a development application for the construction of 23 townhouses at 12-16 Francis Street and 121 Minto Road, Minto.
The residents say they are angry and frustrated that overdevelopment is taking over their suburb, and everywhere they turn their relatively quiet, neighbourly way of life is under threat.
They fear the proposed development will lead to overcrowding, more congestion, significantly reduce access to car parking and vital green space, and will drastically change the suburb’s character forever.
Mr Chanthivong said the situation would only worsen with the State Government’s Precinct Plans set to impact areas such as Minto, Ingleburn and Macquarie Fields with high-rise developments.
The NSW Government’s Medium Density Housing Code will take effect from 6 July, paving the way for substantially more medium density housing such as “manor homes” (two-storey residential flat buildings comprising three to four dwellings) and attached dual occupancies with reduced frontage.
Mr Chanthivong met with residents in Francis Street last Friday to listen to their concerns and let them know that he stands with them in their fight against overdevelopment.
“Like many people in my electorate, the residents of Francis Street know that overdevelopment comes at a huge cost.
“Forget the fancy brochures and the pretty pictures. What you end up with is more urban splatter, people squeezed into shoeboxes with no additional infrastructure and a diminished quality of life.
“My Stop the Squeeze campaign calls on the State Liberal Government to stop turning our local area into a developers’ dumping zone for more congestion, more high-rises and more urban splatter at the expense of our community’s suburban character.
“I will continue to fight the Liberals’ out-of-control and unfair planning agenda. I encourage people to speak out about overdevelopment in their suburb so we can put pressure on the State Liberal Government to Stop the Squeeze,” Mr Chanthivong said.
