Four units approved for Flounder Rd

Gosford Council has approved the construction of four units at 5 Flounder Rd, Ettalong Beach, at its meeting on May 11.

Council inspected the site on the day after a skeletal framework was erected, showing the height and width on the development.

The proposal includes the construction of a two storey residential flat building with three medium sized and one large unit.

Council received seven public submissions on the development.

Council staff reported to the council that even though the development was two storey, a substantial part is one storey at the front or street end and there was landscaped open space at either end of the building.

The tree management officer gave no objection to the removal of two white cedars and a pine tree on the property.

The building application was outside the building envelope but a SEPP 1 objection submitted showed that removing the eaves, which are outside the envelope would be more detrimental.

Public submissions which objected to the development raised issues of character, impairment of outlook, overdevelopment of the site, overshadowing and privacy, the unbroken wall, real estate values, loss of view to Blackwall Mountain and the colour of the roof and walls.

A facilitation meeting was held by Council in September.

Some issues of privacy were resolved at the meeting with two extra conditions of consent on the development being added.

At the meeting, resident Ms Monica Bray spoke against the development.

She cited overdevelopment, the bulk and scale of the development, privacy, the unbroken wall and a similar application at Killcare which was rejected by Council.

Cr Doyle spoke in favour of approving the development.

"We have no grounds for refusal on this one.

"It is permissible," he said.

Alison Branley, Council Agenda DH.O35, May 11