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34 Comments

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1. I am a resident of Kiama Heights, which overlooks the Loves Bay area and have a direct line of sight of number 4 Elanora Road. I am also a frequent user of the public amenity area and the surrounding Kiama Coastal track.
   My concerns for the site is that the development proposed appears to be a dominant structure in both width and height, inconsistent with all other private dwellings in the local area.
   The area is surrounded by pastoral land with cattle grazing, rock platforms and cliffs, and a natural walking track frequented by thousands of tourists and local residents for its natural vista.
   To construct, what I would consider to me, dwellings that resemble an apartment block of 4 stories high would dominate the landscape and detract from the natural beauty of the area for residents and visitors to the public amenity areas.
   The proposed height of the structure will be larger than any other structure on Elanora Road and will impede line of sight for all local residents surrounding the area and the skyline for visitors to the public amenity space.

2. I concur with concerns raised by Brett regarding construction of such a large dwelling. It will detract from the natural beauty of the surrounds.

3. I object to this development because:
   1. It is inconsistent with the area.
   2. It is close to the amenities and the coastal walk which kind of ruins the rural look
   3. Car parking on the street is already an issue because of the with the coast walk. Having these terraces with only 1 car space per unit, will put added pressure for parking on the street
   4. It is so close to the pastoral land and will ruin the look and feel of what is essentially a low density, street.
   5. It may impede the scenic views of existing dwellings

   Regards
   Delores

4. Totally inconsistent with the lifestyle of the suburb. We understand that local government is under pressure where new housing is concerned but it raises the question of just where does excessive development stop. The people living in Kiama Heights have chosen to do so for lifestyle. To date over development has not been allowed to happen in this area and consequently it has retained its basic charm. We now see an out-of-town developer wishing to exploit the natural attraction of the area for financial gain and then move on without any real concern for the impact this development will have. I fear that, should this development application be allowed to proceed, it is likely to be the thin end of the wedge and the local environment that we value to highly will be gone forever.

5. The proposal is an overdevelopment in that there are insufficient parking spaces allocated to each lot and will result in parking stress for neighbouring residents. It will increase the population density of the estate WITHOUT any similar increase in open space or recreational space. Such high density of population resulting from such housing needs to be connected to access to public transport options and access to schools, shops, medical services WITHOUT being dependent on private car transport.
   The development is out of character with the surrounding residential dwellings.
   A scaled down alternative would result in a lesser negative impact on the neighbourhood.
   

6. The proposal is an overdevelopment in that there are insufficient parking spaces allocated to each lot and will result in parking stress for neighbouring residents. It will increase the population density of the estate WITHOUT any similar increase in open space or recreational space. Such high density of population resulting from such housing needs to be connected to access to public transport options and access to schools, shops, medical services WITHOUT being dependent on private car transport.
   The development is out of character with the surrounding residential dwellings.
   A scaled down alternative would result in a lesser negative impact on the neighbourhood.
   

7. I agree with everyone's opinion. The huge size of this development is definitely not consistent with the lifestyle and expectations of the residents of Kiama Heights who live in proximity to and who frequent the Loves Bay area. This imposing development would impact the serenity and beautiful landscape of the sea and cows grazing on the rolling hills in the background, enjoyed by all locals living in the area and visitors from afar walking the track. The traffic will also be impacted as there will be more cars from the development parked near and around Loves Bay which will impact the local residents.

   If this multiple-dwelling development is allowed to go ahead, it will set a precedence for others to try to do the same in the area.

   Please do not let this happen.

8. As others have identified, this development is completely out of scale and inappropriate for this location and for this suburb. It substantially detracts from the amenity of the area by imposing a bulky building close to the water's edge. It is to be hoped that the council will not allow a building of this size in this location and will require the proponent to reduce the height and bulk.

   It also imposes additional density in an area that is already identified as "very disadvantaged" wrt open space. Any development that increases the density of the area should be accompanied by a levy that will increase the amenity of Kiama Heights with respect to open space.

   It also has the appearance of being a holiday resort, rather than ordinary residential dwellings. The proponent should be required to demonstrate how this increased development will contribute to the availability of housing in the Kiama LGA.

9. The proposal of 4 multistory terraces is totally out of character with the housing in this residential area in that it is excessively large and will generate a range of traffic and parking problems. I note there are 9 parking places, plus 1 visitor place. These units are likely to have at least 2 vehicles each and will have multiple visitors, deliveries and other services that require vehicle access. One or more of these properties is likely to be holiday accommodation including AirB&B thus generating considerable traffic. The increased traffic associated with these properties will make walking dangerous for pedestrians (as there are no footpaths) and increase parking problems. While the design of the units attempts to accommodate a person(s) with mobility issues and enables wheelchair access, it is dangerous enough for abled pedestrians to navigate Elanora Road due to lack of footpaths. It would be impossible for a person using a mobility scooter or wheel chair to navigate Elanora Road safely. Parking and traffic in the area is already stretched by people accessing the Coastal Walk. The increased population and traffic arising from this housing development will further exacerbate current traffic problems resulting in a loss of amenity for existing and local residents. Further, the dramatically increased footprint of the building (in comparison to the existing house) means less green space to absorb rainfall and this will result in increased water run off. Already, Kiama storm water drains cannot cope with torrential rain and the proposed development will exacerbate this problem. Over the last decade or so, with increasing development, population and visitors, Kiama residents have suffered from poor public transport, lack of footpaths and bike paths, a struggling sewage system and limited medical services. In view of the above, I’d like to see the proposed development scaled down to better align with existing infrastructure and the surrounding iconic coastal landscape.

10. Completely agree with all the other objections above.

    I would also like to say as this is holiday accommodation the noise from 3 swimming pools will be upsetting for neighbours and walkers using the coastal walk. I live in the heights and we suffer already with people coming for the weekend in a b & b near us. Unfortunately they have no concern for the people who live here permanently and I think the peace in Elenora Road will be gone forever if this is allowed to be built.

11. This is more of a commercial hotel type development in a residential cul de sac. We object for the following reasons:
    1. Out of character with existing residential developments and use. Approval will set a precedent for future similar commercial developments in Kiama Heights . Commercial developments should only allowed in the heart of Kiama.
    2. inadequate parking. This development will rely on off street parking for guests. The street is unable to cope with existing parking demands from residents and visitors who park their car on Elanora Rd when walking along the Kiama Coastal walk.
    3. Issues of Safety. Kiama Heights has only one road in and out. In the event of a natural disaster lives will be jeopardised if this development is approved.

12. I agree with all of the above.
    The proposed type of dwelling is inconsistent with kiama heights current residential area.
    I object based on all of the reasons above

13. I agree with the above comments and share the same concerns regarding the development. As a kiama heights resident and having lived in the gerringong/kiama area I share grave concerns when a development like this is approved.
    As already raised parking is a.major issue.
    When is the line drawn? If developments such as the above continue to be approved we are running the landscape and coastal charm
    As a social welfare worker I understand there is a rental crisis and housing shortage however, this is a development which seeks to make a few people lots of money and is not about assisting with the rental or housing crisis.

14. I have a number of concerns for this development. Firstly the size is inconsistent with all other dwellings in the street and the local area, the plan for multiple dewellings will generate parking problems and significant traffic issues. The property is located on a culasac at the entrance to the coastal walk. The walk is a busy walk for both tourists and locals who walk it frequently. There is very limited parking at the coastal walk entrance so street parking gets really busy. The multiple cars parked on the street reduces the street to only allowing a single car to pass. This will also pose a risk to pedestrians as there are no footpaths in the area. The proposed development needs to be scaled down to be consistent with the surrounding properties, be able to cope with the significant impact of parking/traffic issues and be consistent with the surrounding coastal landscape.

15. Why can't we leave this unique space as it is?
    Why do we have to constantly fill up every space Available in Kiama? We need to consider our footprint on this planet and developments like this prevent us from seriously tackling the huge environmental problems we all face now.

16. I am a resident living in Kiama Heights and bought there specifically for the quiet and country landscape. I am opposed to this development in Elanora road Kiama Heights. It is not consistent with the surrounding landscape and its 3 story height makes it outside the planning already permitted. Parking and noise will become a big issue and residents already have problems at holiday periods with guests and holiday makers. We need to preserve our environment as mentioned in the recent environmental report by the Federal government and there is already over development in Kiama. 'There is already not enough green spaces in Kiama Heights and the area has the least amount of green spaces overall in the Kiama area. The proposal for a hotel style accommodation is not welcome and needs to be scaled down for consistency with the housing structures already built.
    

17. After examining the proposal in detail there are several areas where this proposal does not fit into the appropriate planning regulations of the Kiama Height community.
    1. Height restrictions in the area dictate only two story and even though the land slops away it does not disregard the need to maintain the consistency of proposals.
    2. Car parking is already at a premium in this particular vicinity and the proposed parking allocation is inadequate.
    3. The nature of the proposal is a long way from the community expectations as laid out by the state government, regarding new developments
    4. It seems to me this is yet another out of area developer creating opportunities to take advantage of the natural beauty of community locations with no respect or consideration for that location other than financial rewards. Surly as a community we come to expect that our elected governments serve the community and not business interests at the detriment of the environment, this is an opportunity to offer an example of good planning and design.

18. I strongly oppose this application for the following reasons.
    The DA is for a 4 story building yet Council guidelines are for only 2 stories.
    The parking is woefully inadequate for an extra 16 bedrooms in the street.
    The run off from the increased amount of hard surfaces will lead to the land downhill becoming even wetter and more boggy impairing access to the Coastal Walking Track.
    Increasing the amount of holiday letting only makes the current housing crisis worse.
    Increased strain on our already troubled sewerage works.
    Conflicts with the rural outlook.
    Oversized for the site.
    Excessive noise from holidaying people for the neighbours.
    Increased traffic as there are no nearby shops and limited public transport.
    This proposal is motivated by greed and does nothing to enhance the community or environment of Kiama Heights.

19. Over the past ten years or so, the increasing development in the Kiama LGA, along with increasing population and visitors, has resulted in Kiama residents suffering from poor public transport, lack of footpaths and bike paths, lack of open recreation areas particularly in the southern part of the LGA, a struggling sewage system and limited medical services.
    This proposed development imposes additional density in an area that is already identified as "very disadvantaged" especially in respect to open space. Any development that increases the density of the area should be accompanied by a levy that will increase the amenity of Kiama Heights with respect to open space.
    The proposed building also has the appearance of being a holiday resort, rather than ordinary residential dwellings. The proponent should be required to demonstrate how this increased development will contribute to the availability of housing in the Kiama LGA.
    The proposal of four multi-story terraces is totally out of character with the housing in this residential area. It is an excessively large building and could result in a range of possible traffic and parking problems. One or more of these terrace properties is likely to be holiday accommodation including AirB&B. The increased traffic associated with these properties will make walking along Elanora Road dangerous for pedestrians (as there are no footpaths) and increase the already existing parking problems.
    It also should be noted that the end of Elanora Road, Kiama Heights, is the one and only vehicular access to the adjacent section of the Kiama-Bomaderry railway line, which travels along a high embankment between two railway tunnels. This access is vital for railway track maintenance, or more importantly, in the event of an emergency involving a train. There is only one lane for traffic when vehicles are parked on both sides of Elanora Road.
    Kiama Heights is surrounded by pastoral land with cattle grazing, rock platforms and cliffs, and the Kiama Coastal Walk walking track, frequented by hundreds of tourists and local residents all year round for its natural vista. To allow dwellings to be built that resemble a four story holiday apartment block would dominate the landscape and detract from the natural beauty of the area for residents and visitors to this area.
    It is hoped that Kiama Council will consider objections raised by the residents of Kiama Heights and take action to ensure that this development is not out of character with the surrounding residential dwellings and that any scaled down alternative might result in a minimal impact on the neighbourhood.

20. Many Thanks for passing on the information on this excessively out of character development proposed on these two sites, and I am supportive of comments made by others
    My personal comments are as follows
    If I am correct the overall height when viewed from the low point will be 32 meters in height (just short of 100ft high).
    If, our Council grants approval for a structure of this height in Kiama Heights, it will become the new benchmark height for our suburb, irrespective of the site gradient, or weather it is on the either the high or low side of any road in Kiama
    What will happen with the stormwater? will the increased roof water capture size of the proposed buildings impact on the adjoining land or its access to the recreational land on the low side of the proposal? and its current pedestrian and road access into Loves Bay?
    Will each of the units have a separate and independent property title?
    How does the proponent propose the provide individual and collective safety to future owners and public with the swimming pools?
    The proposal when viewed from Elenora will have all the style of painted white wall, and if not maintained on a regular, collective basis it will turn green within the shortest possible time.
    What will the presentation of the proposed building be if individual owners apply their own colour choice ?
    All existing property owners in Kiama Heights are aware that parking is at a premium, especially when extended family arrives. This proposal will make residents life especially those in Elenora an absolute misery, truly a developers gift to our community, that we will all have to live with long after the has moved on!

21. Our family like living in Kaima Heights because of its natural beauty, its peace and quiet. We have already a few air b&b in the area at present and this peace and quiet is already under threat. Putting a complex proposed is completely inconsistent with the existing houses in the area. As users of the coastal walk will agreed, the proposed complex will really be an eyesore against the natural beauty and charm of Kiama Heights as we come back from Gerrigong to Kiama. Without being repetitive, I agreed completely all the other concerns already mentioned by our fellow residents in the neighbourhood. The proposal will completely destroy the charm and the natural beauty of the area. The price is far too much for Kiama to pay for the benefit of a few and the greed of the developer.

22. I will keep my comments reasonably short as the majority of comments posted have already raised most of my points of concern regarding this proposed development.

    There is one other concern that I have with a development of this magnitude and that is the amount of time it will take to construct and the amount of trucks and trade vehicles travelling up and up and down and parking in the street. This will surely have a very heavy impact on peoples access to their homes especially those houses on the more southern end of Elanora road.

    A development of this size for me is unjustifiable.

23. I would like to add my name to the objections to this development. The size is more in keeping with developments in the town centre, not Kiama Heights.

    I walk the Coastal Track most mornings (weather and track conditions may change my route) and Elanora is already a parking lot. The Council Ranger has to negotiate very narrow access every morning to check the toilets/bins at the start of the Track. Bin day must be a nightmare for the truck drivers. Most days people use the track, many to go fishing as well as admiring the natural beauty of the area. This development does nothing to enhance the beauty. We will, in effect, have a hotel complex at the end of a narrow street which already has no parking.

    If the development was for town houses with off street parking, there could be little objection.

    I realise the developer paid a substantial amount of money for the block, but that was the developers decision. The previous DA was nothing this big. People can't just pay above the odds and then expect Council to approve of an altered plan because they need to recoup their outlay.

    Kind Regards

    Andy and Jane Pitt

24. Absolutely love the proposal! We need more of it in Kiama, together with better shop selection and entertainment! Great work team!

25. I am concerned about this development as it
    1) looks very commercial holiday dwelling , which does not match the tranquil residential homes in the area.
    2) While nowadays a lot of families are leaving the area as there are no rental properties available for young families and buying prices are way above the budget of a lot of families , Kiama’ s face is changing into holiday homes as investors are the only people who can afford the prices .
    3) It is very close to the public access of a very virgin costal walk with all the amazing Bueaty of nature and it’s tranquility , building such a massive building would definitely take away that beauty.
    4) Parking is very limited in this area , for people visiting this beautiful spot of the world, such a project (it’s a project not a house) means many cars parked outside as holidayers usually come in big groups with several cars.

26. We strongly object to the proposal, for the following reasons:
    1. Appreciation of the natural beauty of the coastline and hills would be greatly hampered by the size and concentration of the construction/s.
    2. The tourist, as opposed to residential, purpose of the development would disproportionately affect traffic as well as parking availability, and increase noise pollution.
    3. The slope and low position of the double block, the numbers of occupants, water usage and the three swimming pools would pose too strong a challenge in terms of water run-off, drainage and sewerage.
    This proposal is consistent with sensible planning for the area.

27. I am a resident homeowner in Elanora Road and would like to register my objection to the proposed development on the following grounds:

    a) Approval of a 4 story residential complex on the coastal foreshore of Kiama Heights is out of step with existing housing in the municipality and I am surprised it is allowed under current zoning. If it is not on what basis would an exemption be provided without more extensive consultation with local residents who will be impacted.

    b) Elanora Road is a narrow street which has already been severely impacted by increased traffic and parking associated with the worthy coastal walking trail. It would appear that there is inadequate provision made for the extra vehicles which would be associated with the proposed holiday style accommodation. Any honest assessment of traffic and parking impacts from the short term rental properties already located in Elanora Road would show that there are usually three to four or more vehicles parked on the road around the short term rental properties. Kiama Heights is a car dependent location.

    c) The holiday resort style design of the proposed development is out of keeping with the area and I consider the publicly available drawing associated with the development to be deceptive as it only shows 3, not 4 proposed properties, thereby inferring a lessor footprint and visual impact than will be the case.

    d) The street height of existing properties on the southern side of Elanora Road allow the retention of the view of the foreshore on the southern side of Loves Bay. It is unclear from the drawing provided as to whether the proposed development impacts on the visual amenity and associated property values of properties on the northern side of Elanora Road through restricting the view as described. The approval of such a development creates a precedent in relation to height and amount of stories (4) which will impact homeowners throughout the municipality.

28. As long term residents of beautiful Kiama Heights, we would like to lend our support to the residents who oppose this development. In short our objections are in relation to the following :
    The undesirable effect on local road users, specifically in Elanora Street, but also for the rest of Kiama Heights as short term residential stays will increase traffic on all roads in and out of Kiama Heights.
    The adverse effects a four storey development will have on the local environment, especially when viewed from the walking track,
    The worrying precedent that approval for a four storey development would create for future buildings which would seek to duplicate that size of that development and as a consequence reduce the amenity of Kiama Heights.

29. It looks as though the developers are from a large investment group and do not have a vested interest in the culture, atmosphere and naturally beautiful environment of Kiama Heights, particularly Loves Bay. LIke most of us who choose to live in Kiama Heights, particularly residents on both sides of Elanora Road and all who frequent Elanora Road to get to Loves Bay, it will create more traffic chaos, as the road will be narrowed with more cars parked on the road and near the cul-de-sac. The magnitude of this building will also further exacerbate the already poor land drainage facing Loves Bay.

    On their website, the developers also claim to own another large 5-bedroom b&b on Elanora Road so I think they will be trying to acquire more properties for their investors in the area. I do not blame them for trying to do develop in such a beautiful place as their main concern is to get good returns for their investors, however, it should not be at the angst of others who live in the area.

    As a resident who have worked hard to come to live in the area to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Loves Bay area, I oppose this out-of-character development which does not blend in with the other dwellings already there.

30. I object to this proposal and think council should refuse approval.
    Reason : the proposed use is commercial, (the project is marketed as "holiday homes"), which should not be permitted in a residential zone.

    In my opinion any entire building or entire unit that is used as holiday house and is short term rented out as whole house or apartment (not only one room) is commercial use. I object to this use being permitted in a residential zone. Renting out one room in your house should be allowed to a certain extent, so it doesn't impact the hotel / motel industry.

    Please put DA conditions on the approval that prohibits short term rent of the houses and also prohibits use as secondary residnece. This is a residential zone, it should be only permitted to "reside" there, meaning people live here as their primary residence, not run a commercial business. Thank you.

31. Barry and Sandra Booth. Much has been written about this proposed development and we agree with most of the submissions. This proposed development is totally out of character for Kiama Heights. The building exceeds the current height level of two stories
    and the sight of three swimming pools is overkill. Another problem being parking. This area is already "over parked" and only having one car space per unit is only going increase the existing parking problem. as we all know todays families usually have two vehicles.
    This development also has the potential for short term rental i.e. Air B & B further adding to the existing parking problem.
    So in our opinion this development in its current form should not be approved.

32. Please do not let this be build, it will have a large and negative affect on the beauty of the coast walk.

33. I am opposed to the proposed development at 4-6 Elanora Road.
    The development looks like an apartment block and is not consistent with existing houses in the street and very much out of character for the area.
    Elanora Road is not a Resort Style Living area which this building would represent and encourage other similar developments, greatly changing the community / village charm that currently exists.
    The building does not fit in with the surrounding area of beautiful pastoral landscapes and we do not want to see this spoilt by high-rise development.
    Elanora Road cannot cope with street parking now during holiday & weekends. Parking would become a nightmare when the four holiday units have visitors overflow onto street parking

34. I am a resident homeowner in Elanora Road and would like to register my objection to the proposed development on the following grounds:

    a) Approval of a 4 story residential complex on the coastal foreshore of Kiama Heights is out of step with existing housing in the municipality and I am surprised it is allowed under current zoning. If it is not on what basis would an exemption be provided without more extensive consultation with local residents who will be impacted.

    b) Elanora Road is a narrow street which has already been severely impacted by increased traffic and parking associated with the worthy coastal walking trail. It would appear that there is inadequate provision made for the extra vehicles which would be associated with the proposed holiday style accommodation. Any honest assessment of traffic and parking impacts from the short term rental properties already located in Elanora Road would show that there are usually three to four or more vehicles parked on the road around the short term rental properties. Kiama Heights is a car dependent location.

    c) The holiday resort style design of the proposed development is out of keeping with the area and I consider the publicly available drawing associated with the development to be deceptive as it only shows 3, not 4 proposed properties, thereby inferring a lessor footprint and visual impact than will be the case.

    d) The street height of existing properties on the southern side of Elanora Road allow the retention of the view of the foreshore on the southern side of Loves Bay. It is unclear from the drawing provided as to whether the proposed development impacts on the visual amenity and associated property values of properties on the northern side of Elanora Road through restricting the view as described. The approval of such a development creates a precedent in relation to height and amount of stories (4) which will impact homeowners throughout the municipality.

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