Stop outrageous boarding house development

There is currently a development application for an 11 unit-room boarding house at 454 Ocean Beach Rd, Umina.

All Umina residents I know are vehemently opposed to the proposal.

A little known fact is when criminals are released from prison if they have nowhere to go they often are relocated to boarding houses because of the cheap accommodation.

Developers tried to build a similar boarding house at Ettalong where residents strenuously objected and successfully prevented it being built.

The homeless people gathering at Woy Woy are a sad blight on the area with drunkenness, fighting and foul language common.

The people of Umina don't want to see this beautiful beachside suburb turned into a slum area of the future.

This development is opposite the CWA Hall where senior citizens regularly congregate.

It is near Umina Beach Public School and numerous children walk to school, sometimes unsupervised.

It is a long way from Woy Woy railway station and is nowhere near a ready employment hub.

There is enough pressure on public transport now.

There are 11 units, self-contained, with no apparent stipulation of the numbers of people allowed in each unit, as well as a minimum of one manager on duty at all times.

The boarding house will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Smoking is strictly prohibited within the internal parts of the premises, including all rooms, bathrooms and common areas, meaning of course nicotine-addicted residents of the boarding house will gather outside on Ocean Beach Rd smoking.

In light of the sheer weight of numbers of Umina residents opposing this development, I look to our council officers and our elected council representatives to act responsibly and stop this outrageous development in a residential area.

Please do not destroy the natural ambience of Umina with inappropriate developments like this.

I caution if this development is allowed, other similar applications will follow.

Email, 18 May 2019

Kevin Woods, Umina