Peninsula Community Access Edition 367
News Phone 4325 7369 Fax 4321 0940
11 May 2015
Gosford Council has voted to fight the original Ettalong Boarding House proposal at a hearing in the Land and Environment Court - Artist impression
Council to defend boarding house refusal Gosford Council will defend its refusal of the contentious proposed boarding house at Ettalong Beach in the NSW Land and Environment Court. The Council voted six to four last Wednesday, May 6, to cease conciliation proceedings in the court and defend its refusal of the applicant’s original proposal last year. Gosford mayor Cr Lawrie McKinna said the public opposition to the boarding house was too significant to ignore even though council had managed to argue for major changes as part of the current amended proposal. “We realise that council staff have negotiated a number of major changes to the original proposal, in response to both our and the
community’s concerns, after the applicant appealed to the court about council’s refusal last year,” Cr McKinna said. “However, we also recognise that the community remains concerned about whether this boarding house proposal will fit with the character of the local Ettalong area, and whether it has been designed with proper regard to social impacts. “Given the ongoing opposition from local residents across the Peninsula, Council has decided the matter should be defended rather than continue with the current conciliation proceedings,” he said. Council’s general manager Paul Anderson has been instructed to advise the Land and Environment Court that council wishes to cease the current conciliation
proceedings and list the matter for hearing. “Ultimately, it will be up to the court to determine the fate of this boarding house proposal,” Cr McKinna added. “Defending planning decisions in the court is not something councillors take lightly, especially given the potential cost to the wider Gosford community. “However, in light of the serious concerns that are still held as well as the groundswell of opposition from the local community, we believe it is important to defend our original refusal,” he said. The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce welcomed Council’s decision to discontinue the current mediation process in the Land and Environment Court and reject the amended boarding house plans currently on exhibition.
“The chamber realises how difficult this boarding house application has been for the council but, clearly, the community considers this application inappropriate for the location,” said Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales. “This is a view shared by the chamber. “Council’s decision to defend the appeal is welcome news and is in direct response to the community’s expectations. “Both the Chamber and the Ettalong Beach community looked for Council’s support and achieved it,” he said. According to Mr Wales, the changes negotiated by council during the mediation process were never going to be acceptable. “Whether 24 or 30 boarding rooms, the social impacts on the
community were always going to be considerable,” he said. Inadequate parking and traffic congestion were other major concerns to the community especially adjacent to the busy Ferry Road wharf, Mr Wales said. “We all understand that the Court will ultimately make the final decision but both the chamber and the community are relieved that the council will now defend the matter in a full court hearing.” Email, 6 May 2015 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Media release, 6 May 2015 Cr Lawrie McKinna, Gosford Council Gosford Council NM.3, 6 May 2015 Reporter: Jackie Pearson
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