Community objects to refreshment rooms

Last night my husband spoke at the council meeting against the development application that proposes three refreshment rooms near the Empire Bay Service Station.

Since council advised us of the proposed development, we have objected to it in all its iterations and have submitted written objections as required each time.

We currently have no access to the existing sewer and continue to rely on on-site disposal as does the pre-school next-door.

The caravan park has to have a pump out service.

It is disgraceful that this development will take priority over existing residents for access to the sewer, a service that other Gosford Council residents take for granted.

In addition, we have no footpaths or street lighting, no kerb and guttering, no dedicated bike path along Empire Bay Dr or easy access to recreation areas.

Council has a poor record of infrequent litter pickup and maintenance of roadsides and grassed areas in this locale as well.

All this is unsurprising, as we have chosen to live in an area that is a rural bushland setting, not a commercial precinct.

If approved, this new development will alter this setting forever and be prioritised for services that we cannot access.

Of major concern to me is that despite a number of court orders and local and state government planning instruments that should have been used to inform council's decision on this development application (DA), there appears to be a deliberate and concerted effort by council staff to facilitate this proposal in favour of the developers despite quite strong community objections over considerable time.

Many regulations relating to the DA appear to have been disregarded or ignored since the building of the service station that was developed by the same group, Liantra Pty Ltd.

These actions, or inactions, give the impression that the developer is being considered more favourably than the regulations would allow.

I have urged council to deny this application.

My continuing objection to this development is strong as in my opinion it is entirely inappropriate and detrimental on many accounts to residents, the environment and the locality.

The scale and type of this development is inordinately out of place and is more suited to locating in an industrial area, not prominently on the main road of a scenic area.

With so many objections to the development of this site (since 2003), how can council make a decision in favour of it when none will have to live with the impact of their decision?

It should be clear that this development is inappropriate given the number of times it has been re-presented and should raise concerns to councillors that some council staff may be perceived as having a conflict of interest.

Email, 28 Sep 2011 Trish Peters, Empire Bay