Anything is permissible around here

Matthew Wales for the Chamber of Commerce highlights seven appeals by developers against refusal of their proposals by Gosford Council.

Mr Wales state that many of these are for "developments that are permissible uses within the subject zones".

Most people know that anything is permissible "within the subject zones" around here.

Take the Taj Mahal or the "club" extension at Ettalong: Nine storeys high, the same as Peppers at Terrigal, in a quiet location where the height limitation is three storeys.

It is interesting to look at the reasons that these "permissible" ventures were refused.

Four of them were refused because they "did not conform to design requirements of state government acts", "will have an adverse impact on privacy of neighbours", "not permissible use on land zoned 7(a) Conservation", "the proposal does not comply with the density standards of the Gosford Planning Scheme Ordinance".

The fourth involves a development that had conditions placed on its consent but before these conditions could be fulfilled the property changed hands and the new owners are arguing that they are not responsible for the conditions imposed on the first owner.

That leaves three.

One wants to knock down substantial trees at Pearl Beach.

One wants to knock down a heritage building, the Ferrymaster's Cottage at Wagstaff.

The last one Council decided not to defend because it involved moving a liquor licence one block up the street and was unlikely to be opposed by the Land and Environment Court.

So from the information provided, we can read that the Chamber of Commerce is in favour of developments that will have an adverse impact on the privacy of neighbours, are built on land zoned for Conservation and don't comply to the density standards - developments that knock down every tree on the block in leafy suburbs and that require the bulldozing of Heritage Buildings are supported by the Chamber.

This attitude is the reason most residents are fed up with the way the Peninsula is being over-developed and many are doing something about it.

Save Our Suburbs is active in ensuring that adequate development controls are in place on the Peninsula.

Our next meeting is on July 22 at Woy Woy South Hall, corner Woy Woy Rd and Pier St, at 3.30 pm. Enquiries 4342 2251

Bryan Ellis, Umina