PlanningAlerts

36 Comments

Create an account or sign in to have your say by adding your own comment.

1. We have enough unfinished sand filled eyesores for one suburb with little infrastructure.

2. I have no criticism of quality Ecco friendly development, however, the comments by Christine are highly relevant. The eyesore left near the entrance to Anna Bay needs to be cleared and turned back to natural habitat.

   Even the bus stop, currently blocked off to humans needs removal and redesign. First things first. With each approval the residents should be addressed and those seeking approval need to a) have finance fully approved, b) display on site all plans c) be limited by full disclosure, thus not resubmit later plans for further extensions.

   The balance of nature in the Port Stephens area is reliant on tourism and much of this is natural beauty, fishing and escape from city life. Let’s make sure we leave this place better for natural beauty than when we arrived.

   Craig Sheaves

3. This should not be approved leave the land alone and stay Natural there has been enough damage done.

4. The issue I see with this revised DA is the general public doesn't realise it's next door to the eyesore & not the original mess being developed/cleaned up.

   The street numbers are not consistent & our town master plan doesn't reflect we are about to become a stretch of hotels/motels & resorts.

   The eyesore 74-84 Gan Gan "eyesore" sits with an approved development. If the owner buys 46 Gan Gan at Auction on the 23rd of this month they will own the entire stretch to McKenzie's sand mine. Maybe Bruce will eventually sell the final piece to the puzzle.

   Anna Bay is constantly rally together to stop the wrong sand swallowing, mozzie infested, inappropriate heliports development but this one has gone unnoticed & might just sneak through.

   I do hope our newly elected councillors learn from the past & make appropriate decisions on behalf of the community.

5. A development of this size would congest Anna Bay beyond belief while also ruining the beautiful scenery we have at the entry to the village and take away Anna Bays wonderful village atmosphere, which is the main reason people come her in the first place.

6. Please listen to the residents! We rely on tourism in Port Stephens but development should be carefully considered because the very things that draw tourists and residents here are easily lost if development is not controlled. The defunct resort next door to this proposed development is an illustration of an inappropriate use of land.
   Removing the vegetation opens up the dunes to erosion, sand is blowing across the road into homes, dangerous to drivers in high winds and no respect by the developer to the peaceful enjoyment of the area by the public.
   The proposed resort does not meet the requirements for a true environmentally sound design, with what is considered by many to be tokenistic additions to calm the dissent.
   One of the partners in this proposed development is the owner of the defunct resort so public trust in his motives and actions is very low. He has no respect for the environment or he would have undertaken effective remedial work on the defunct resort as requested - which is a blight on the landscape, an environmental example of poor management and an ongoing issue for the local council who have not been able to make him remediate the situation.
   This proposed development is not suitable for this location and the current zoning should be upheld.
   Please do not inflict this on us or our visitors. Our local council has invested in a tourism interchange nearby (about to be constructed) but accommodation does not need to be right next door. There are more suitable locations that are already zoned for this kind of development.

7. We do not have the infrastructure to support the amount of people this could possibly attract especially in peak seasons when the whole district is at its busiest.
   I also think that the mess that is already there needs to be cleaned up before another development is even thought about.
   FIX ANNA BAY FIRST!!

8. I as a community member am concerned about this proposal. To be clear, the issue is not with the eco friendly element. It is about commitment (as you can tell from the failed “eye sore” and being “stuck” with that) and whether we have the appropriate infrastructure in place to accommodate such a large scale development.

9. Please no more developments next to the largest mobile sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. The eyesore (previously approved and partially completed “resort”) next to this planned development is evidence enough that it just doesn’t work.
   I have photos of the empty and derelict accommodation filled with sand less than 2-3 years after they were constructed. There is sand floor to ceiling inside the rooms!
   The dunes are constantly shifting in a north easterly direction around 5 metres every year (from past historical data). I have worked on the dunes for the past 12 years, I have seen it with my own eyes.
   This is NOT the place for a resort/hotel/building.

   This is in addition to lack of infrastructure and parking in the area as spoken about in other submissions.
   Please listen to the locals, the current failed resort has been a terrible blight on the town going on for more than 6 years now, and as a previous submission stated people do not realise this is another seperate DA because the idea is simply ridiculous beyond belief. To add insult to injury this new DA has someone in common with the current derelict resort, how about they spend the money to do something about that first?

10. Where do you start? Wrong location adjacent to the largest dunes on the east coast. Dismal design masquerading as an “eco resort”. Our infrastructure barely supports the existing residential and commercial developments. This land should be acquired and returned to the public as open space as should the eyesore next door.
    As for the proponent, they are either the same as the eyesore that has sat blighting our landscape for many years or closely linked to them. Either way, they should not be trusted to develop such a sensitive site. Our planning laws that allow DAs to be approved but then sit unconstructed or partially constructed for years on end needs to be changed. Full finance should need to be guaranteed up front and completion within a defined period should required or it is forfeited. No ifs or buts. Plus no extensions for any reason - new DA required under current laws. That might stop the part completed eyesores that blight our landscape.

11. Really silly thing is we have a constant north moving sand dunes
    That will eventually swallow all building along that stretch
    And by removing more trees to build it will increase the rate of sand movement and I know this as I was born and bread in Anna bay and have seen that sand dune mass move a long way since I was a kid
    So basically we will end up with a sand mine operation to keep the resorts from being overrun by the moving sand dune mass
    The other reason is there should be no more until the first defunct resort that looks like a junk pile and detracts from the area is sorted properly

12. Please stop this destruction of our beautiful area. Nothing should happen there, just look at how the eyesore is being covered by sand. And how can you allow someone who has already shown they can’t manage building a resort have a go at another one. Enough is enough.

13. Maybe representatives from the Planning Authority need to actually visit the proposed site of this development and the eyesore next door, which I understand have the developer in common, to fully appreciate the unsuitability of any such development on the sand dunes. These are moving dunes, and by removing the vegetation which reduces the rate of sand movement, you are effectively allowing the rate of sand encroachment to the north to increase. His will eventually affect already existing residences if this is allowed to happen. There is not enough infrastructure in the town to support this type of development. The nearby beach car parks are already at capacity during tourist seasons. The monetary investment would be better spent cleaning up the already existing derelict monstrosity next door, that this developer has forced on the residents of the area. Despite the protests and efforts over the years to have this site returned to its natural state, nothing has been done. It would be wonderful if the Department of Planning, which approved the original development, could force the developer to either complete the existing development, or better bulldoze it to the ground and not give him permission to create another blight on our landscape. The environmental impact that this will create should be fully explored before any consideration of approving the development goes ahead.

14. Please, please please we do not to risk another unfinished "resort" at the entrance to Anna Bay. Let's clean up the current eyesore by either demolishing it entirely or completing it & then maybe look at how these resort's actually fit into the town of Anna Bay or if we even need or want them here.
    Anyone applying to develop something of this magnitude should have to prove they have the finance to complete the development right to the end and have ongoing funds to continue the maintenance that such a resort would need.
    No more derelicts for Anna Bay !!!

15. If the council elected by the ratepaying residents allow this continual destruction of our beautiful little coastal town then you all need to be drawn and quartered and run out of town immediately,you were elected to do a job that you promised to forfill to keep our beautiful which our last two elected council have failed to I am sick of the lies and excuses...

16. The Planning Committee should review if this really is a suitable development next to the amazing sand dunes which should be maintained as public land. The current white elephant eyesore needs to be demolished and returned to a natural state. It detracts massively from the natural beauty of the area.

17. No more developments like this next to the Anna Bay sand dunes. The developer should be jailed for his lack of responsibility for the first failed development next door
    The residents are united, no more development.

18. Anna Bay already has one unfinished resort and my concern is that the proposed resort will be the same. There seems to be no requirement for developers to have the FULL FINANCE for the project. So they start a project and use local tradespeople - then find they cannot complete the work and do not pay the tradespeople (who lose their homes because of non payment).

    Before any approval or consideration of a project the Government must close the loophole and require FULL FUNDS IN A TRUST SURETY ACCOUNT to fully complete a project. If this isn't done - then no approval of any development should be considered whatsoever. This process needs to happen.

19. I agree that it would not make sense to proceed with this development given the shifting dunes and lack of general infrastructure in Anna bay. I’m not again progress when thought out properly. Please ensure large developments are completed properly. The one adjacent is just ridiculous and unfair to the people who live in the town as well as the tourists who pay a lot to stay.

20. Sand is ever changing/moving & shifting especially in this location! No construction should be built here ever again, it will just be money wasted down the drain otherwise because the sand won’t stop for anyone. (No one will want to stay at a hotel/motel covered by sand)

    Best thing to do would be to clean up that area completely after the first construction mess was made! Then restore & return that land BACK TO NATURE how it should have been ALL ALONG!

21. It would be irresponsible to approve a development here when the previous project next door to it has failed so spectacularly. Please fix the first issue before creating another.

22. This development should be rejected on several grounds. Its location is in a prominent gateway entry position to the town, on a natural stretch of land adjoining not only the beautiful sand dunes but also next door to a derelict development of similar size making one wonder how such a development could not only be considered but also how feasible such a development could be. Considering the local council are unable to do anything to rectify the existing derelict eyesore that has been a concern for local residents and businesses for around ten years, how can another development even be considered that is similar in design and from what i hear could also have similar personal involved as the first disaster. The fact that this application is also requested to go ahead on an important stretch of native land with significant environmental challenges, traffic considerations during an already congested holiday period and it's gateway position, this development application should warrant warning flags for any planning or environmental departments.

23. Should be removed completely and left as it was to begin with, no hotel or resort. It’s such an eyesore, I hate driving home and seeing that gross neglected half built mess there it’s such a disappointment.

24. Get the development that’s been sitting there for years- which is totally off putting and an eyesore - finished and landscaped first.
    Until then, no more DA’s approved for resorts. The other one is setting a precedence for potential developers that is not in the interests of anyone other than the developer.

25. This is not the place for a tourist facility due to the shifting sands. I have lived here for
    40 years and have seen the huge amount of sand that is blown across that area and even over the road. Friends had to move from the site opposite due to the constant sandblasting of their home, where sand penetrated every crevice.
    We are concerned that this project if approved will not succeed and the community will be left with another ugly pile of abandoned buildings like their next door neighbour. Not what we want at the gateway to our village, thanks!

26. I'm at a loss as to why this has even got this far. Port Stephens council approved another so call resort which has failed ,and now our town has had to bear the brunt of the eyesore for 10yrs with no end insight. Being a small community our infrastructure such as sewerage, roads, and even our local shop car park enough capacity for non tourist times, but come Christmas and school holidays and Easter seasons is when all the above escalates with the sewerage not being able to adequately handle the influx and the smell of sewage being very prominent at the pump station, I'm sure to the neighbouring residents the stench is overbearing.
    As you can probably tell I'm against any further type of these developments due to these and other problems.

27. These sites should never be developed - on the shifting sands. None should ever be approved. Disgraceful.

28. We have enough accommodation holiday resorts ,
    Why not add more proactive fun facilities and more learning and play parks
    Better FOOD
    Education centres
    so many unfinished sand filled eyesores for one suburb with little infrastructure.

29. The proposed development site on 58 Gan Gan Road Anna Bay, backs directly onto one of the largest sand dunes in NSW on Burundi Beach. This is site is not suitable for development, as the moving sands of Birubi Beach will engulf it eventually. The unfinished resort adjacent to 58 Gan Gan Road Anna Bay has been partially engulfed by these ever moving sand dunes. Mother Nature cannot be tamed nor should it be interrupted.

30. Nothing should be built on these shifting sands near Anna Bay. They are the largest and most amazing moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere and they do not need to be spoilt by any "resort". The old "resort" site needs to be cleared so the sand dunes can regenerate.
    Very sad when planning authorities, developers and real estate agents combine to get such a bad result. A close inspection of this site would quickly reveal to anyone that it is not an appropriate use of the land which should be left in its natural state.

31. I am against this development. The large abandoned development next door needs to be cleaned up and returned to its natural state before any further developments are considered along this stretch. Anna Bay lacks the infrastructure to support this. Traffic is already congested at this location. The dunes were shut last year because of storm damage. Development of this site will not help.

32. If the previous eye saw, that has had NO development done in the past 6 plus years is anything to go by I'm DEFINITELY against it!!!!!

33. If the previous eye saw, that has had NO development done in the past 6 plus years is anything to go by I'm DEFINITELY against it!!!!!

34. If the previous eye saw, that has had NO development done in the past 6 plus years is anything to go by I'm DEFINITELY against it!!!!!

35. These style of developments need to be forbidden in the vicinity of the Stockton Sand Dunes because this and similar proposals before it do nothing to enhance the Environmental amenity of the area. The proposed 98 units do not illustrate eco tourism but is more comparable to a oversized hotel in the sand. The natural vegetation and backdrop of this site needs to be protected and conserved.

36. How can a 2nd development even be contemplated when the disaster of the first development still exists? This is not in the best interests of Anna Bay at all!!!!

Have your say on this application

Your comment and details will be sent to NSW Sydney and Regional Planning Panels. They may consider your submission when they decide whether to approve this application. Your name and comment will be posted publicly above.

Create an account or sign in to make a comment