NOT OPEN SPACE

WE Aussies, the genuine laid-back, proud residents of our great country, have been reared to the concept of space. We aspire to one day own our three to four-bedroom home, with enough space at back, to kick a ball or play a game of French-cricket.

Enough space to allow for the area to accommodate at least one medium size pet dog for interaction with children and maybe a second smaller dog for company for first dog.

However, most council areas, are desperate to encourage more and more urban development, bringing in rate moneys to facilitate their operations.

This in turn creates the opportunity for money-grabbing developers stepping in, to create money making housing developments. As these companies are determined to make exorbitant profits, they lobby councils to allow for much smaller blocks to house larger dwellings, we end up with large houses on 400/600m2 blocks, with very little area for a family and animals to enjoy the freedom families are looking for and should have in this great country of ours.

To facilitate the cost reduction for greater developmental profits, road and street reserves are narrower to help developers reduce costs.

Also, no allowance is made for street parking for visitors, ambulance, fire, or delivery vehicles. In past years, streets were no less than 11m kerb to kerb, with feeder road or streets 14m approx., with barrier kerbs restricting parking on a 4m footpath.

Later a “laid back” mountable kerb was designed, to allow for parking on foot paths, for visitors etc. Now it is deemed these mountable laid-back kerbs are a barrier. They are not and never intended to be used for use as restriction kerbs.

This situation requires addressing to allay confusion. In essence, there is too much leaning toward the “big end” of town equals developers. BOB FOWKE, Regency Downs