A $13.6 million eco tourist resort and function centre at Bellawongarah, which Shoalhaven City Council has rejected will be discussed at a Joint Regional Planning Panel at the School of Arts in Nowra on Thursday at 3pm.
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SHOALHAVEN City Council has rejected two major but controversial tourist developments planned for the area.
Council rejected a $13.6 million eco tourist resort and function centre at Bellawongarah and a $530,000 tourist accommodation site at Mt Hay Road just outside of Berry.
The eco tourist resort and function centre at Rockfield Park, between Berry and Kangaroo Valley, comprises 42 accommodation units, a function centre, restaurant, onsite sewage treatment plant, pool/gym facilities building, wildlife centre, day spa, bushfire refuge building, manager’s residence, associated infrastructure (landscaping, creek crossings, etc) and a new dwelling house.
Lodged by the Hamilton family, a decision will be made on the project by the Joint Regional Planning Panel, which is holding a meeting at the School of Arts in Nowra on Thursday at 3pm.
Council has recommended JRPP refuse the development.
Although voting against the proposal, Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash, said she would still like to see a development of this scale somewhere within the city.
“Council rejected the proposed development on a recommendation of staff,” she said.
“They presented a very comprehensive report.
“I did say at the end of the meeting I would love to have seen a development like this within the city. But this wasn’t the right site.
“I love the idea of it, eco tourism. But the public didn’t seem to think it qualified for eco tourism and the staff had genuine concerns about a number of issues.”
She said JRPP would have the final say in the approval process.
“We will have to wait see what come from Thursday’s meeting,” Cr Gash said.
“If JRPP does refuse it, the applicant can go back to the drawing board and put in another application if they wish, depending on what JRPP recommends.”
At Tuesday’s development committee, council also rejected Dr Wayne Houghton’s application for alterations to an existing tourist facility at Mt Hay Road (private) at Berry.
Dr Houghton proposes alterations and additions to an approved, existing tourist facility, converting an existing accommodation unit (former dairy bales) into a wellness centre including a gymnasium, to construct a 300 square metre greenhouse and a two bedroom tourist accommodation unit.
The site is occupied by a dwelling, outbuildings, indoor swimming pool and a tourist facility, including six accommodation units in the form of five single bedroom units.
The meeting was told the size and scale of the proposed accommodation unit, located on a prominent ridge, knoll, is contrary to the objectives of the E3 zone of the Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014 and would have adverse visual impacts on the amenity and aesthetic values of the surrounding area, and landscape qualities of the Berry area.
“ I don’t know what the applicant will now do,” Cr Gash said.
“I suspect he will take it to the Land and Environment Court.
“The application was rejected for many reasons, the main one was on sight. The line of sight but I think public opinion also came into it as well.”