Dear friend,
A while ago, you signed our petition to protect biodiversity in Leichhardt. We're writing with a related update, because the green spaces, tree canopy and habitat we came together to defend now faces a renewed and far more serious threat: a sweeping rezoning proposal on a scale well beyond what we faced before - with no voice for biodiversity.
Massive Rezoning in Leichhardt - what does it mean for you? 7 June Meeting
There's a meeting on Sunday 7 June 2026 at 2.00pm at Leichhardt Town Hall, Norton Street, dealing with the "planning" threats to our suburb, and it should be informative. The keynote speaker is Tim Sneesby, who has outstanding qualifications - both as a hands-on planner and as an academic. I've outlined his background in the PS below. He sounds well worth hearing, and we hope you can make it.
https://www.leichhardtmatters.net
This won't only affect our existing residents (including renters) — it threatens our biodiversity and the green space that sustains it.
The Inner West Council's own Fairer Future: Social Infrastructure Needs Study reports that the Leichhardt Housing Investigation Area already has the lowest open space provision in the area - just 7.6 square metres per person. That's a fraction of the 50 square metres per person widely held up as the ideal for a green, liveable city.
You can follow Leichhardt MATTERS on Facebook or via their website leichhardtmatters.net
Best,
Lungs of Leichhardt
https://lungsofleichhardt.com/biodiversity/
P.S. This is a fuller bio of Tim Neesby:
Tim Sneesby a prominent town planner and manager of strategic planning at a Sydney Council. He is an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Sydney and teaches planning and urban economics both there and at several other Sydney-based universities. He is on the advisory board for the planning degrees at UNSW and Sydney Uni.
Tim is a past Recipient of the Planning Institute of Australia’s National Young Planner of the Year award and has worked in urban economics consultancy in Sydney, had planning roles in London and has also worked with developers.
Tim has published in academic journals and built-environment websites on planning and housing issues and is a regular contributor to the Fifth Estate. Specifically, he has written about:
- Planning policies that affect housing supply and affordability
- The impact of zoning laws on housing prices
- Community involvement in local planning decisions
He is an advocate for meaningful community engagement in town planning, for putting the public interest back into planning and even a formal designated Community Advocate position in local councils.