Patonga DCP plans not rejected
I was concerned to read in your article inappropriately titled "Patonga plans shelved" in relation to a draft Development Control Plan for our village, a number of inaccurate statements attributed to one member of our community, Mr Vic Jefferies.
Setting the record straight, there was no public meeting held at any time that has rejected the plan, let alone "overwhelmingly".
Contrary to what Mr Jefferies suggests, Patonga held public meetings in 1994 and 1995, which accepted a draft DCP which was formulated by Andrews Neil consultants upon instruction by Gosford City Council with a tremendous degree of community input and consultation.
In the introduction of the consultant's report on Patonga, they noted: "A settlement of this size and integrity in such a unique location would not be possible under today's planning legislation and with contemporary community attitudes towards development of sensitive areas.
"It is precisely for this reason that the village will increasingly come under pressure with rising real estate values ...
"In 1998, at a third public meeting attended by over 100 residents, the residents voted that the greatest concern for the village was the threat of inappropriate developments."
The meeting agreed to establish a steering committee, which went about the process of reviewing the consultants' recommendations further with a view to implementing development controls for the village.
At this point in time, the steering committee has resubmitted one section of the draft to the Patonga Progress Association for its members' reconsideration having previously reached agreement on all other sections of a very lengthy document.
I, and the other members of the steering committee, which included the president of the Progress Association, remain hopeful that some form of agreement will be reached to progress the draft DCP with council and preserve the character of our village.
Robert Osborne Patonga