Neighbours around Bian Crt and Warrambool Road in South Ocean Shores are calling for staff and councillors to reject outright a DA for the consolidation of three large residential lots and eight townhouses, which The Echo understands is a precedent for the Shire.
Resident Sara Gloede said the development would double the density of the area and appears fraught with planning, engineering and ecological obstacles, in addition to the strong united opposition from all surrounding neighbours.
She says, ‘The dwellings are proposed over a water easement and council infrastructure on a wet, forested, boggy environment at the bottom of a steep valley.’
The lots are 11 and 13 Warrambool Road and 9 Bian Court, according to the DA.
She says, ‘Around 58 locals signed a petition objecting to the original proposal, which was submitted on March 27, 2018.’
Gloede said her group engaged a range of professionals who demonstrated the original DA failed to adhere to NSW government planning laws and Council policies.
‘This new DA is basically the same, but without two dwellings,’ she said.
According to the DA, around 500m3 of imported fill material is required. ‘This could equate to 50 truck movements on an already damaged road surface on Bian Crt,’ said Gloede. ‘There is no construction timeframe for the three-staged DA, yet the last DA suggested six days a week over three years.
‘This proposal does not fit with the character of the street or area, is not a sustainable building design, and would set an unwanted precedent for the area.’
Developer meeting
Gloede says, ‘After neighbours met Sydney-based developer Callum Sked on May 2, 2018, the DA was withdrawn.’
‘We expressed concern at loss of value to our homes, loss of ambience, vista and amenity among other things.
Gloede says, ‘We work from home and have a ten- month-old baby and other neighbours are homebound owing to disability, and we are very concerned about several years of construction for six days a week.’
‘Neighbours are also very concerned about the loss of 866 square metres of native vegetation and 31 trees of ecological value from the gully, which will fundamentally change the social character of the area.
‘Neighbours all actively and purposefully enjoy and engage with the high levels of native birds and fauna – none of us bought houses in this area by accident.
‘Having just made it into the housing market ourselves, we expect this to put us into significant financial distress. It is disappointing to note that during the meeting, [developer] Sked rationalised his development as an opportunity for non-homeowners to enter the real estate market.
‘He acknowledged to the group that at least half of the homes will be owned by his friends and family.
‘When asked what he would do in our position (ie losing value on our just purchased family home, losing our visual aspect, living next to construction for three years and facing long-term increased noise and light pollution), Sked acknowledged that he would object to the development.’
Gloede adds, ‘We believe that the developer stands to make significant profit at the expense of the many surrounding neighbours, and that Council needs to balance the rights of residents against the might and resources of speculating developers.’
Unstable lands
Gloede says, ‘The original 2018 DA was flagged as being on ‘unstable lands’ by staff, yet the new DA has no mention of this.’
‘Council staff are yet to explain to us why unstable lands was not mentioned in the new DA.’
The area is also known for landslips. As reported by The Northern Star in 1989, a home in Bian Court was demolished after the entire ridge collapsed into its back yard.
The original subdivision application for Ocean Shores goes back to the 1970s. The Echo understands large lots were created owing to land slippages and other constraints.
No geotech report
‘A geotechnical report, as requested by staff, has not been supplied within the re-exhibited DA,’ Gloede says.
The report’s omission by the developer again highlights the ongoing questionable process around how DAs are processed within Council.
According to the DA, Sked is leading a consortium of landowners comprising UK- based Eliot and Katherine Warrington, Edward and Anna Robins and Vince Lococo.
DA 10.2018.552.1 is on public exhibition until January 31.
Developer Callum Sked was contacted in relation to this story and says he will reply upon his return from the Congo.
*The Echo’s editor is an impacted neighbour.
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