URGENT, Council meeting 4pm 27 April
27 Apr 2010
Council will consider rescinding their support for rezoning and development of Robert Cochrane's land behind the KV Bowling Club. There is huge community concern at the proposed rezoning which in Council's words is to "permit the development".
The development comprises:
- 135 dwellings (up to 4 bedroom)
- 120 "seniors" dwellings (up to 3 bedrooms) and possible "high care facilities"
- 40 hotel apartments and conference centre
In addition to the concerns previously raised about the size and inappropriateness of the development, we are concerned because:
There has been no consultation with the community: We want our community, not developers deciding what's good for our town. We expect Councillors to initiate community consultation and make a genuine commitment to include our views.
The process doesn't look good : Firstly, a meeting of Council's Development Committee was held with no advice to the community that the application was on; a meeting at which the developer's consultant was invited to speak; at which pre-prepared recommendations favouring the developer were presented by Councillors; after which the consultants were invited to dinner and further presentations with those Councillors.
Secondly, Councillor Ward has had to declare an interest in the matter (landowner Robert Cochrane had a vote in his pre-selection as Liberal party candidate for Kiama) and Councillor Guile was also a voter. The Shoalhaven Independents Party (Councillors Watson, Kearney, Young and Proudfoot) received a $1000 donation from one of the developer's companies for their election campaign in 2008. (Note that Councillor Proudfoot has voted to support the KV community) This is all on the public record - not gossip!
It's based on bad information: we've obtained a number of reports under FOI, including one the developer, Colys commissioned to back up their claim that the development was needed. Amongst other things, it claims:
- It's only a 200 metre walk from the site to downtown shops and services for the elderly
- Between 1996 and 2006 Kangaroo Valley LOST 86 dwellings! (Did you notice that happen?)
- It acknowledges the "high care facility" may not happen, ....and there's more.
Where's the sewerage going? The site was previously rejected for rezoning and 37 houses in 1992 because Council said there was no way to treat effluent and waste water on site without causing pollution to the Kangaroo River - what's changed other than the number of dwellings has risen by about 900%? (And this site has been excluded from the new KV Sewage Treatment Plant about to be commenced)
Make your feelings known, email councillors at council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au
bulletin prepared by KV Community Association, KV Tourist Association and KV Environment Group