Questioned about Hillview St plans

Cr Terri Latella has asked Gosford Council's director of environment and planning why plans for a retirement village on Hillview St and Veron Rd, Woy Woy, were withdrawn from exhibition at Woy Woy library.

The application is currently in the Land and Environment Court and the plans had only been publicly advertised again for just over a week.

Director of environment and planning Ms Colleen Worthy Jennings said her understanding was that the development application was still on public exhibition until later that week, but stated she would investigate the matter.

The application was also withdrawn from a council advertisement in the Express Advocate during the same period that it was allegedly removed from exhibition at Woy Woy library.

The Everglades retirement village is planned for bushland, currently owned by the Catholic Church, at the corner of Veron Rd and Hillview St

According to council's community relation officers Ms Vicki Brown, the court is now the determining authority for the development.

The amended plans, submitted to the court by the applicant, had been presented to council at the direction of the court.

Ms Brown said the amended plans had been advertised to allow for public submissions regarding the amendments.

The amendments provide a greater setback from Hillview St, providing a 20m bush buffer along the streetfront.

Council will make comments back to the court after they have assessed the amended plans.

Woy Woy library staff told Peninsula News on August 4 that the documents were still on exhibition until August 19.

Council agenda Q.111, August 2 Vicki Brown, Gosford Council