Department proceeds with duplex plans

The Department of Housing is to construct a duplex home on a property in Grafton Ave, Woy Woy, despite claims it is in conflict with the area's character statements.

An officer of the NSW Department of Housing said the Department was moving ahead with the development.

"The property at 1 Grafton Ave was damaged by fire and is currently vacant.

"Council has approved the Department's plans to demolish the building and build two two-bedroom homes in its place," the officer said.

"The Department experiences a very high demand for public housing in the Woy Woy area, and will continue to look for opportunities to increase the amount of homes to help meet this demand.

"Development applications concerning three more properties on Grafton Ave and one on Nambucca Dr are currently with Council.

"The Department plans to build eight two-bedroom homes on these sites as part of a future capital program."

Save Our Suburbs raised the concerns of residents about the Housing Department proposal to remove five homes in Nambucca Dr and Grafton Ave at Woy Woy and replace them with duplexes in July 2002.

Residents objected to the proposal on several grounds including the fundamental inconsistencies in the process.

Then Planning Minister Dr Andrew Refshauge told Mr Bryan Ellis from Save Our Suburbs he would give "close consideration" to Housing Department plans for Woy Woy.

The character statements for the Peninsula prohibit the development of extensive "duplexes" in areas that are predominantly detached houses, said Mr Ellis.

In November that year, just 24 hours before an inspection was due to occur by Gosford Council, the council received a letter from the department saying that the application had been withdrawn "pending a Ministerial Review".

"The community of Woy Woy has rallied in support of the tenants who, without any consultation whatsoever from the Department of Housing, have been told they are to be relocated from the houses they have been occupying, in some cases for nearly 30 years," said Cr Lynne Bockholt at the time.

"The cynical amongst us will immediately smell a rat and will not expect any further action until after the election in March."

Alison Branley, April 2