Byron Shire Council staff have refused a request from a group of residents to extend public submissions for a large development in Ocean Shores, despite a requirement that a geotech report be put on public exhibition.
Public exhibition for lot consolidation and eight townhouses at 11 and 13 Warramabool Road and 9 Bian Court is open until January 30. Yet surrounding residents claim it is fraught with a myriad of issues and is inappropriate for the area.
The residents want it rejected outright.
Resident Jennifer Goodavage told The Echo, ‘The lack of planning clarity and equity again puts Council’s planning processes under the spotlight. Residents are being asked to make submissions without being fully informed of crucial information such as a geotech report’.
No geotech report
Council staff say they have requested a geotechnical report from developer Callum Sked for the Ocean Shores DA and are ‘currently waiting for this to be submitted.’
‘When received, the report will be available on Council’s website.’
Yet placing the DA before public submissions appears to contravene Council’s June 21, 2018 resolution, where councillors voted unanimously for notice of motion (NoM) 9.3 Lots Identified.
That NoM amended chapter B14.2 of the DCP 2014 (Excavation and Fill) specifies that unstable lands require geotechnical reports.
Known landslip
The lands in question were previously flagged as ‘unstable’, yet the latest DA has no mention of this.
Resident Sara Gloede, representing neighbours, told The Echo, ‘Council staff are yet to explain to us why unstable lands were 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 the backyard.
Goodavage added she was ‘extremely concerned about 50 truckloads of landfill being dumped on unstable land and the possibility of a major rain event triggering another landslide, as happened before.’
Meanwhile Council staff say, ‘People who may not be able to meet the closing date for submissions are asked to email Council’s development support staff.’
‘This DA will also be sent to Council’s Planning Review Committee on February 14.
‘This committee, which includes all councillors, will decide if the DA should go to the elected council for determination.’
DA 10.2018.552.1 can be found on Council’s website.
Developer Callum Sked was, like the previous story, offered comment.
The Echo editor is an impacted neighbour.
It seems memories are short in town, but mine isn’t…yet. So if my memory serves me well, a massive mudslide went through the lower part of this proposed development and through homes along the entire eastern side of Bian Ct. Above the end of Bian Ct., a home on Weeronga Way came with in m.m. of seeing its pool slide down and through the homes below along with the mud. But hey, maybe I’m mistaken, but if not it doesn’t look like a good idea to me…just sayin’. David