The Bugle 21 November 2015
A fortnightly celebration of people and places on the Upper South Coast of NSW
Serving the communities of Kiama, Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama Downs, Minnamurra and Gerroa and now at www.thebugleonline.com
Council stands united against mega-mansion DA Robby Ingham, former high end fashion retailer and heir to the Ingham chicken fortune, has had his Development Application to build on his land on the first headland south of Gerringong township rejected. The size and scale of the proposal, and its positioning on the wrong side of the foreshore building line, left Council with no alternative. As Mayor Brian Petschler says, “I’ve been in local government since 1962, and I’ve not seen a DA that so blatently disregards state laws and local government requirements.” The 40ha site is subject to a registered building envelope, which specifies where all dwellings or ancillary buildings can be located. The DA proposes a two storey, 10 bedroom principal dwelling with an overall floor area, including pool house, garages and verandahs, of 3,927m2 (an acre in old speak), There is also a manager’s quarters, a tennis court and pavilion, two swimming pools, a barn and stables compound, a farm shed, two dams and access roads. To précis its 50 page report on the application, Council believes the proposal does meet the aims of the NSW coastal protection legislation (SEPP 71) or its environmental management zoning due to the siting,
bulk, scale and size of the overall development. Under Kiama Council’s Local Environment Plan (LEP), the dams are not permitted; neither is the large exercise area which effectively turns the stables compound into an equestrian centre. The proposal also goes against a raft of objectives and performance controls in Kiama’s Development Control Plan. The full report is available on the Council’s website, in the Business Papers for its November meeting. Nearby landowner Professor Roger Collins addressed the Public Access meeting on the matter, as well as reading a letter from immediate neighbour Eng Lee. Amongst other things, the letter from Mr Lee said, “In the DA approved for my proposed residence, I adhered to the allotted building envelope, designed a house that is fitting into the environment (as acknowledged by Kiama Council), discussed the plans with my neighbours and was incredibly considerate as to the height of the building. The above DA does not take any of those considerations into mind.” Professor Collins raised the prospect of Mr Ingham moving the decision up to the Land and Environment Court (LEC). “It is very difficult to un-
Inside this issue Developing a vision for central Kiama p 3
The manager’s quarters are located within the registered building envelope.
Major building repairs on Manning St p3
This line indicates the edge of foreshore building line. The majority of the buildings are past that line, rather than the registered building envelope.
derstand either how the owners purchased this property without adequate research into the constraints on building that applied under the provisions of SEPP 71 or the Local Environment Plan, or alternatively that they believed they could override long standing laws and provisions that apply to this zone,” he said. “If this DA is rejected by
The Waratah March: Remembering Bill and his mates p4
Above: The eastern elevation of the proposed dwelling
Councillors and the applicant proceeds to the LEC, Council can be assured of very strong community support for your decision on a scale and strength which on a previous occasion successfully opposed the proposed caravan park in Gerringong.”
Note from the Editor As you will see, this issue of The Bugle is jam packed with local news so much so we’ve had to leave some things out. It’s a good time to announce that thanks to growing support by local advertisers the next issue will be 50% bigger!
Young artists shine p5