Working together is the answer

I refer to the letter by Mr Bryan Ellis of Umina (Peninsula News, January 24) in relation to the proposed rezoning of the Ettalong Beach Club land and his concerns regarding the proposed building heights.

Quite incorrectly, Mr Ellis states that Mr Brett Newbold, planning consultant for Gosford Council, was the one responsible for setting the three storey height limit for Ettalong Beach which was embodied in the character statement urban design framework (UDF) some years ago.

It is my understanding that the provision that buildings should appear more than three storeys in height in Ettalong Beach was actually a decision of council's after the public consultation phase of the UDF was concluded.

Heights in the CBD were not actually part of the Newbold brief nor were they discussed in detail at the community meetings.

It certainly did not form part of the document that went on public exhibition that I viewed.

Regardless, times change and the needs of the community alter.

Mr Ellis asks the question as to how urban design principles can vary from low-rise to high-rise.

Easily. Council regularly amends the Gosford planning scheme ordinance to accommodate the needs of a growing city.

In fact, the planning scheme has been amended over 300 times since its inception in 1968, probably a very good reason for a major overhaul.

As to the supposed unanimous opposition to the continued over-development and population increases that accompany over-development, I have no doubt that many residents have concerns as I do that infrastructure should be in place to accommodate any shift in the rate of development so that if it has to happen, the effects are minimised and our quality of life is maintained.

However, I take offence from Mr Ellis' inference that the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is somehow engaged in the manipulation of the public consultation process at the behest of developers.

Everyone has the right to their opinion, and generally I respect that of Mr Ellis.

But such inferences from Mr Ellis are not helpful.

They do nothing to either promote constructive debate over the urban form or our town centres or encourage dialogue as to how services and infrastructure can be provided to meet the increasing demand of both those who live on the Peninsula and those who want to move here.

Closing the gates and erecting "go home" signs will not solve the problem.

Making sure we work together as a collective is the only solution.

I am sure that Mr Ellis would not want the right for his own children to live here taken away just because we haven't planned for the future.

Matthew Wales, Umina Peninsula Chamber president