Hearing on Veron Rd land

The hearing over the proposal to build retirement units on land owned by the Catholic church in Veron Rd, Woy Woy, will take place in the Land and Environment Court today and tomorrow, December 12 and 13.

The solicitor acting on behalf of Gosford Council, Ms Pauline Wright of PJ Donnellan, said the hearing was expected to be concluded on those two days.

"The applicant has put in amended plans, but there are still big issues in terms of the ecology of the site," Ms Wright said.

"Council is continuing to defend against the development, and the developers still want it to proceed."

Ms Wright said she had received various objections from the community.

"It is an important site in terms of the rarity of the ecological community," Ms Wright said.

"And the extent of the ecological community on the site is the big issue.

"The applicant's experts say that the community only covers part of the site, while the experts engaged by council and court appointed experts say it covers all of the site.

"The applicant says because its only part of the site, they say the development won't significantly affect it."

Lyle Stone, December 9