Developer rethinks Veron Rd appeal

Lawyers for Providence Projects have successfully sought an adjournment of their Land and Environment Court appeal after two days of hearings.

Providence Projects lodged the appeal over Gosford Council's deemed refusal of its plans to build villas on the Catholic land at the corner of Veron Rd and Hillview St, Woy Woy.

Council subsequently formally refused the application on grounds of inadequate documentation, including absence of a species impact statement.

The adjournment until July 5 was sought so the applicant might consider its options, after a panel of four ecologists determined that the Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland on the site was more extensive than first recognised.

It is understood that recognition of this endangered ecological community on the site forced the developer to concede that the development as proposed was unsuitable for the site.

The options likely to be considered include amending the proposal so that it would not have such a significant impact on the vegetation on site, discontinuing the proceedings, or to carrying out a species impact statement.

If a modified proposal is submitted, it would have to be re-advertised and the community given the opportunity to make comments on the amended proposal.

The court convened on site on Thursday, June 2, for an inspection.

Fluorescent ribbons were used to delineate the various plant communities, as assessed by the developer's ecologist.

The hearing was then adjourned to Woy Woy Courthouse where evidence was taken from three objectors and four letters of support from neighbours were presented.

The hearing resumed the following day in the Land and Environment Court in Sydney, where a conference concluded between four ecologists engaged for the case: two by the applicant and one each by the Gosford Council and the court itself.

Stuart Baumann, June 9