Commissioner stops work
Village DA on exhibition p3
Jones Beach dunes in limbo p3
Steel running again p5
New home for Men’s Shed p7
p15
30 OCT 2021
South Kiama rezoning fallout
Almost two weeks after the State Government informed Council it would be approving the rezoning of land at South Kiama for housing, efforts are still being made to reverse – or at least understand – the decision. The approval of the planning proposal by White Constructions, for 444 lots (285 standard size, 156 small lots and 3 large lots)
on land between Saddleback Mountain Rd and Weir St, rejected the advice of Kiama Council and appeals from the community. The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) concluded the proposal had the necessary Strategic and Site Specific Merit and issues raised during consultation could be addressed.
The reasons for the decision have yet to be released. In a report to the Government in July, Council said the proposal failed to satisfy those Merit Tests. It opposed the large development because of lack of need at the current time, heritage and flooding concerns, it being ahead of the development of a Local Housing Strategy, the excessive fill that would be required and community opposition. The recommendation was supported unanimously by councillors, and 284 out of 300 submissions. “I am very disappointed that the concerns of the community and council were not taken into serious account,” says Mayor Mark Honey. The chair of Central
Precinct, Mark Greaves, is extremely disturbed by the decision. “It is amazing when we live in a democracy that those rezoning decisions are totally taken out of our hands. Even though we made a strong recommendation to the Minister that the rezoning shouldn’t go ahead, the Department has gone and done it anyway. “It wasn’t that long ago that zoning decisions were totally under the control of local government. Now they can just totally override that.” He had been concerned because the decision was taking so long. “It appears that consensus of public opinion is worthless. It is not right we have no right of appeal. The developer did when it was initially
rejected.” The Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, raised the matter in Parliament, formally calling upon the NSW Planning Minister to act to stop the approval going ahead. Without this ministerial intervention, there is no other mechanism to appeal the decision. “I have always supported balanced and responsible development. This [South Kiama] proposal is neither balanced nor responsible and I do not support it,” Mr Ward said. “This proposal will overwhelm local infrastructure like local roads, waterways and sewerage systems. We need development that adds value not destroys the village character of our community which is why so many moved here in the first place.” In his speech, Mr Ward queried what caused the The man responsible for the put into the Kiama Urban Mr Morcom says the recshould leave it to the experts. Department to reject the South Kiama planning proStrategy,” he says. ommendation from Council “The State Government weight of evidence against posal, Graham Morcom of “In 2020, the same council- to reject the planning propos- has approved it after a rigor- the Proposal. White Constructions, doesn’t lors who are against it now al was not accepted by the ous process,” he says. “I would ask that the Mingive any weight to the arguendorsed the Local Strategic Department for good reason, He is looking forward to ister advise our community ments of the people opposing Planning Statement and as there was even more the future. why the Department was so the approval, as the commu- the South Kiama land is evidence it would work. “We are encouraged by the easily convinced in light of nity consultation on the land included in that document He says 100 people from comments of Kiama Council a tsunami of evidence that happened some time ago. for rezoning. the area have already put CEO Jane Stroud to work would lead any reasonable “I don’t understand why “All this required communi- down their name to buy a together proactively and person to be opposed to this various people are doing all ty consultation. block of land. collaboratively to complete proposal and I would call on this, because in 2011, the “This land is only good As for those criticising the the process and supply much the Minister to release this land went through commufor housing, and people are reports that form the basis needed housing lots to the detail provided by the applinity consultation and was screaming for more housing.” for the decision, he says they local community.” continued on p20
The developer’s point of view
Akuna St process outlined
A confidential meeting of Kiama Council has reafirmed the intent of previous resolutions and clarified the process that will be followed to put Council’s Akuna St/Mitre 10 landholding out to public tender. As early as next week the expression of interest will be opened for real estate agents to manage the sales process. “After 13 years, open tender is the way to get a resolution to the development of that site,” says Mayor Mark Honey. Council’s CEO Jane Stroud says she wants it to go out to tender within a month. “I will make it a priority. “Ideally I would like to have all of it done and ready for approval by the new Council, in the first quarter of next year.” Unlike when it was last put up for sale, this tender will not specify the building of a supermarket on the site or the retention of public car parking. “It is purely for the sale of the lots. Everything else
continued on p16