The Bugle 23 June 2018
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
Akuna St decision: developer mystified Two weeks after a confidential extraordinary meeting of Kiama Council pulled the plug on the sale of its Akuna St/Mitre 10 site to Nick Daoud, the developer is still in shock over the decision. “It came completely out of the blue,” he says. He admits to being emotional when he was phoned by General Manager Kerry McMurray with the news. “I was just told “It’s over”. I said it can’t be over. We live in a lawful country, or words to that effect. “I have been unable to talk with Kerry or the Mayor since, despite approaches. “I feel what has happened is insulting and I want to be given the opportunity to hear why they have pulled the plug without any warning. “This isn’t the way to do business.” Rather than threatening
Editor’s note: It is hard to tell just one side of a major story like this, but with Council in lock-down over the matter we are unable to do more. Mr Daoud has shown The Bugle documentation to back his assertions. It is a story we will continue to follow with great interest.
legal action, he says he just wanted to talk about the reasoning behind the decision. “I am a great believer in talking things over to work out problems,” he says. “I have never taken anyone to court, because I believe there are better ways to work things out. “At the moment I am completely in the dark as to the reasons the councillors changed their minds at this very late stage. I feel beaten by the system.” The developer says he has put two years of work into the project, to bring a second supermarket, connectivity between Terralong and Akuna St, and more apartments to Kiama. His total expenses are in the region of $2 million, including $550,000 in nonrefundable option fees paid to Council. He has also bought adjacent properties in Collins St to facilitate access. Council has also invested a lot of time and money, and, according to Mr Daoud, the end was in sight. “The day before [Council’s decision to rescind], we were talking to planning officers about our amended design, which incorporates all of the changes recommended by the JRPP [Joint
to exchange on the property after the last JRPP hearing, when time was becoming an issue, but then another option period was offered. He dismisses rumours that Aldi wasn’t committed to the project as being a possible reason for the reversal of the decision, which gained unanimous support from councillors. “We were working very closely with Aldi up until the day before the councillors made their decision. They are as shocked as us.” If by any chance Aldi did unexpectedly pull out, Mr Daoud had a back up plan signed with Metcash Nick Daoud at his Bathers development last year to provide an IGA on the Regional Planning Panel, another $60,000) so he could site to meet the supermarket the body responsible for get approval from the JRPP requirement of the contract. approving the development by September. “Our contract with Council given its size and Council’s Mr Daoud says he was specified we had to have an ownership]. intending to present the plans Aldi, Metcash or Coles super“There was agreement on to the JRPP at a meeting on market in the development. our design changes from 28 June, as he had been told “We worked with Aldi all Council and its advisors, the smaller proposal would the way through, but right apart from the planners hav- not need to be exhibited from the start I had Metcash ing reservations about the again if the rooftop element ready to step in if necessary.” suitability of a rooftop pub- was not included. He rejects criticisms that lic access area on the site [as “We were given no indica- the development was too recommended by the JRPP]. tion that Council was unbig, saying the final design “Once they got back to us happy with what we were is 1100m2 under what is allowed by the floor space on whether this should be doing, and I still haven’t incorporated, we were going been given a reason for the ratios for the site. “The development was to be all ready to go.” reversal of the decision to At that time, Council had give us one more extension sent to the JRPP with the agreed to extend a final of time.” Continued page 4 option to the developer (for Mr Daoud says he offered
Inside this issue Congratulations to our Order of Australia recipients p3
League Greats come to mingle p 4 Lions Careers Cottage almost there p7
Swim for the solstice p9
Results of Red Cross Fun Run p12