Officers oppose rezoning application

Council officers have recommended councillors decline a rezoning application that would allow Central Coast Kayak Tours to operate from Ettalong's residential area.

The subject land is on the corner of Broken Bay Rd and Uligandi St, opposite the Ettalong Beach Memorial Club and Ettalong Beach Gardeners Cottage.

The company currently has an office, and stores kayaks in a residential dwelling at Avoca.

Council's director of development and the environment, Mr John Murray, said: "It is more appropriate that such a commercial activity be located within an existing commercial area.

"A rezoning would represent an ad-hoc and incremental incursion of commercial activities at the edge of the town centre, and may encourage other businesses to encroach into residential areas."

The company's representatives, Wales and Associates, said the rezoning was justified because, among other reasons, the land abuts the existing business district, the rezoning would encourage tourist-based businesses into the area, and the proposal would complement the new Ettalong Beach Resort complex.

Carl Spears, March 6