Calderwood 'unsustainable': Shellharbour Council

By Alex Arnold
Updated November 5 2012 - 10:35pm, first published June 9 2010 - 1:24am

ShellharbourCity Council has declared its opposition to the Calderwood Urban Development Project.At an extraordinary meeting last night, administrator David Jesson backed a council report that declared the planned subdivision "economically, environmentally and socially unsustainable".Delfin Lend Lease (DLL) said the inability of West Dapto to meet targets set out in the Illawarra Regional Strategy (IRS) justified an early release at Calderwood.Pointing to recent comments by Planning Minister Tony Kelly that land supply in the Illawarra was at record levels, Mr Jesson argued the IRS "is not broken and does not need fixing".Mr Jesson also requested a meeting with Mr Kelly before he makes a final determination on the 4800-lot subdivision.However, DLL has argued the economic benefits of the project are being ignored.It would deliver $3 billion in development expenditure, add $6 billion to the Shellharbour economy and create 7600 full-time equivalent jobs by 2026, DLL's Calderwood project director Bill Mitchell said.The project's environmental assessment not only met but exceeded the requirements set out by the NSW Department of Planning, he said.When it came to environmental concerns, Mr Mitchell said DLL had received notification that the proposal satisfied Commonwealth environmental regulations.Although approval of the project ultimately lies with the NSW Planning Minister, Mr Mitchell said Shellharbour council would have opportunities for further input in the project, including the development of a voluntary planning agreement.The council's claim that such an agreement would be disadvantageous to the council was premature, he said.When complete, the 700ha Calderwood Valley site would include 4800 homes for 12,000 residents and more than 50ha dedicated to retail, community, education, mixed-use and employment. About 320 residential lots would be created during stage one.The plans are on exhibition until the end of the week.

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