Major event funding
Council reforms approved p3
Kiama Heights rally
p3
Kiama to KISS again this year p4
Jazz & Blues Festival guide
p13
p9-12
26 FEB 2022
Town Centre DCP to guide growth The long anticipated draft Kiama Town Centre Development Control Plan (DCP) includes a proposal to raise the height limit in a large part of the CBD from three storeys (11m) to four storeys (13.5m). Council’s Manager Strategic Planning, Ed Patterson, says he was surprised when this increase in height controls was suggested during
consultations about the draft with a broad community reference group late last year. “We went to those consultations proposing height controls were maintained at the status quo,” he says. “However in talking through the key sites and the corner buildings, they [the reference group] considered that a height increase would be appropriate, particularly if
recessed back. “In order to achieve good outcomes, an increase in height may be appropriate.” Until now, there has been little guidance on what the community wants to see built in the area. “When developers come to planning consultants and say what does the community want in the town centre, they don’t have a clear answer to
give,” says Mr Patterson. “It is more of a DA check list, with no real controls – which makes the assessing officer’s job really difficult.” The draft DCP is the result of a process that began in 2018 with consultants developing a Town Centre Study in consultation with the community, and then a Traffic & Parking Study being conducted to test its recommendations. “We’ve had workshops and briefings with a lot of people over that time,” says Mr Patterson. “This is the culminating exhibition process.” Rather than a dry docuFor the past five years, the ment, the draft DCP is filled owners of 2A Pheasant Point with diagrams, pictures and Road have enjoyed sole illustrations to give a real feel access to 60 sq metres of for what is desired, including prime land on the edge of a coastal tone and respect for Kiama Harbour for free. our heritage. But now the February “We want it to clearly flag Council meeting voted 5:3 that this is the type of devel(one abstention) to begin the opment we want in the town process of selling the land centre,” says Mr Patterson. to them, for a figure they “It is pulling on those things mentioned at Public Access that make Kiama, Kiama. as being several hundreds of “We want developments thousands of dollars. that are of high quality and The situation came about of land has been designated throughout the Municipality. provide a good outcome for because in 2017, due to as a ‘paper road’ extension of The land has been the the community.” safety concerns, Council Shoalhaven St since 1869. subject of a number of With this in mind, within built a fence contiguous with Crown Lands has approved complaints and investigation the draft there are seven the landowners’ fence which its sale by Council, seeing regarding claims of illegal site-specific DCPs, which blocked off public access to no use for it. Money from land clearing and unauthogive more detail on what is the road reserve. the sale will be earmarked rised use of public land. wanted for these strategic The unlikely, cliff top patch for carrying out road works continued on p4 sites:
Council to sell small lot with a big view
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Examples of the desired future built form in the Kiama CBD
• Akuna Street • Civic Precinct (Council Admin site) • Kiama Leagues Club • Kiama Village Shopping Centre • Havilah Place • Kiama SLSC • Commonwealth Bank. For example, the DCP for the Akuna Street site (which Council is in the process of selling) includes a public square, the desire for a laneway between the back of the Terralong St shops and the development, separate buildings of differing heights (up to six storeys), the retaining of significant trees and more.
Council’s site on the south of Akuna St is also included, with two buildings of three and four storeys. “A lot of those elements were brought through in workshops which were held with councillors,” says Mr Patterson. There is no clear control or objective in the DCP for the site to provide a second supermarket. Mr Patterson says the Kiama Leagues Club site is the one that has changed the most from what was originally envisaged in the Town Centre Study.
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