Keep Ettalong's charm

My husband and I moved to the Peninsula area from Sydney as commuters in 1998 and, after our working lives are over, we plan to retire here.

We were attracted by the one and two-storey building restrictions in Ettalong Beach Town Centre, Woy Woy and Umina.

These give the place a low-key "country" feel, distinct from "the big smoke", a holiday spot replete with wildlife that we love to return to each day from Sydney.

The recently built four-storey Ettalong Beach Hotel is stylistically in keeping with the existing "old world" charm of Ettalong - the streetscape, the markets, and motel (currently being enlarged) abutting the markets.

The proposed rezoning of the War Memorial Club-Outrigger Resort has severely impacted on the charm of the town - but we can accept this development as it is to one side of the township, does not overpower the beach, and is more attractive than the concrete bunker it replaced.

We are not anti-development.

However, the proposed nine, seven and five storey development on Ettalong Beach by Tesrol Ettalong Property Ltd is completely out of character with the rest of the town - the reason residents and holiday makers were attracted to the town in the first place.

This development would completely obliterate the charming Ettalong town centre, and overshadow the town which is not for the few in their high-rise, but for everyone.

If the intention is to turn Ettalong into another Terrigal, we are completely opposed to this development application.

Ettalong is unique on the Coast for being a small and vibrant town, with a carefully preserved character, and loved for this by residents and visitors alike.

With additional permanent population, just getting to Ettalong on the F3 would be a nightmare.

We hope, for the above reasons, council will reject this development application - and preserve the unique character of Ettalong, Woy Woy and Umina.

Sue and Chris Moe, Bensville