A long-running bid by a group of Helensburgh developers to rezone a parcel of environmental land to allow up to 310 houses to be built has once again been knocked back by Wollongong City Council.
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On Monday, councillors voted unanimously not to support a draft planning proposal for the area, known as the Lady Carrington Estate South precinct.
The site, east of Helensburgh adjoining dense bushland, has a long and complex history and, according to the council, has been considered unsuitable for residential development since the 1980s.
A rezoning bid was last knocked back by the council in 2013.
Ahead of the meeting, council staff had recommended the plans be shut down, saying the area was not an identified site for housing in strategic documents, that development would increase runoff into the Hacking River, and that the proposal would add to the bushfire risk in an already dangerous area.
In addition, staff also noted there had been significant community opposition to the proposal over decades, with the latest round of community consultation revealing 86 per cent of residents objected to the rezoning.
Before the vote, a planning lawyer for the developers, John Burrell, pleaded with councillors not to heed staff advice.
"The report, that became known to us only during this past week, has come as a complete surprise, in fact a shock, because there was no consultation about the recommendation," he said, adding he had spoken to many residents in favour of the plans. "I would urge councillors not to waste this opportunity to do something really good for Helensburgh and procure lasting benefits for the community."
Councillors remained unconvinced, however.
"Unlike what [the developer said] I haven't heard from a single resident in support of this development going ahead," Labor councillor Jenelle Rimmer said.
"They are completely against the planning proposal. One of the concerns that was raised over and over again was the environmental impact, and importantly the bushfire risk."
Janice Kershaw said she had been dealing with efforts to rezone the same land since she was first elected to council in 1991.
"I'm surprised that Mr Burrell was so shocked with the council recommendation, because as far as I'm concerned, nothing has changed and I am in full support of the officers recommendation," she said.
Likewise, Ann Martin said it was time for the developers to get the message.
"We do not want this, the community do not want this," she said. "Please get the message now, it's a no. I will not be supporting this, and frankly on planning terms, it's a dog."
Leigh Colacino also spoke against the development, saying it would degrade Helensburgh's drawcards, like bushland and "being able to get away from the city rat race", however he also warned that the developers may elect to take their case to the NSW government.
"The decision on this land can be taken out of council's hands," he said. "Tonight's decision might not be the closure everyone is hoping for."
Council's decision can be reviewed by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment at the request of the developer.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
