Church claims unfair treatment at Veron Rd

A representative for the Broken Bay Catholic Diocese has claimed it has been "singled out and treated unfairly" by Gosford Council.

Mr Brett Brown said changes to a Council development control plan (DCP) would affect bushland owned by the church at the corner of Hillview St and Veron Rd, Woy Woy, where it was planned to build a 39-unit retirement village.

The development application for the proposal is currently before the Land and Environment Court.

Mr Brown said the land was located within the area to which the DCP applied and he said he was concerned that council was using the amendments to advance its actions in the Land and Environment Court.

"It would be unlawful for the DCP to be inconsistent with the Gosford Planing Scheme Ordinance," Mr Brown said.

"What council is effectively doing is creating site-specific controls.

"The owner of this land is being singled out and treated unfairly."

Mr Brown said the applicants wanted to work with council to achieve a good outcome.

"We have forwarded a letter to council, which suggests some change in wording to the place character which would better reflect the zoning of the area and the attributes of the site," Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown believed the site should be reclassified to Open Woodland, like the surrounding residential area.

Cr Latella dismissed the claim, stating that the DCP only reflected what the community wanted.

"It's my understanding that DCP 159 has been developed as part of community consultation," Cr Latella said.

"This is what the community desire of their area, one that they live in and work in.

"That's why the DCP has been developed.

"That's why there is legislation that protects endangered species."

Cr Laurie Maher also raised questions about the comments made.

"In terms of the reference to the legalities, do those assertions have foundation or not," Cr Maher said.

Council general manager Mr Peter Wilson said that "assertions as to whether it was being used in any ways to advance our actions in the environment court, I wouldn't agree with that at all".

Officers involved in amending DCP 159 stated that the land had been reclassified to Scenic Buffer (Future Residential) to better reflect the 2(a) zoning.

Lyle Stone, September 13 Council agenda ENV.38, September 13