Meeting to oppose over-development

Residents opposing "gross over-development" of the Peninsula will hold another public meeting at 2pm on Saturday, July 9, at Ettalong Progress Hall.

The meeting follows a similar meeting held two weeks ago at the hall.

"Reasonable development does not sacrifice the quality of life of the residents of the Peninsula," said meeting organiser Mr Bryan Ellis.

"Residents should know that their councillors are asking the State Government to abandon the principles of orderly coastal development as set out in State Environmental Planning Policy 71," he said.

"This Coastal Protection Policy recommends that development on sensitive coastal sites be restricted to three storeys with some height increase further away from the shoreline.

"Our council is recommending that the Minister for Planning approve a development that his own Design Review Panel has called a gross over-development of the site that should be reduced in height, bulk and scale by 30 per cent."

Mr Ellis said that, in one week, more than 1000 residents had signed a petition asking the Minister to reject gross over-development and to apply reasonable standards to development at Ettalong.

Mr Ellis said his position was not anti-development, but he was opposed to gross over-development.

"We want progress that people can live with and still have suburbs that we can recognise," he said.

Mr Ellis quoted the Outrigger Resort manager: "As Mr Bottiglieri puts it, people come to Ettalong Beach and fall in love with the place."

Mr Ellis said he agreed with Mr Bottiglieri's statement: "It's devine with its lovely little meandering streets and shops. It's a real village feeling and that's what people find very appealing."

Mr Ellis said: "From my interaction with the community in the past month, this is all the reasonable people of the Peninsula are asking.

"Reasonable development that does not destroy our way of life or the Peninsula lifestyle.

"In contrast, your council, led by Cr Hale, is asking us to accept gross over-development."

Press release, June 22 Bryan Ellis