Dido Street Kiama 2533, NSW

I live and own a single storey villa next to the proposed development.
I have these concerns:
: I will lose the sun and my privacy, as I am below the existing land, which is very steep, if 2 storey dwellings are built on my boundary.
: Where is the access to this development? Dido St. is basically one lane and Glenbrook Dr. has to cross the riparian way, which floods in heavy rain, flowing into the Spring Creek Wetlands adjacent.
The causeway at Dido St. floods and is impassible in heavy rain.
Kind Regards.....Denise Berry

I live on the adjoining boundary to this proposed development and am deeply concerned about the impact to the numerous birdlife species which nest and live here, the creek being an important water source for them together with the trees and bushes which are their homes. Riparian rules must apply so to just change the landscape by infilling is not feasible or acceptable to the residents here. It is a natural waterway and in heavy rain the area floods, the bridge at Dido Street (the only access in and out of our properties) becomes impassable and is in urgent need of an upgrade and so far no funds available by Council to do so. That bridge will not withstand heavy trucks, nor increased traffic and this would become a huge safety risk to all concerned with the enormous amount of building being proposed.
The beautiful figtree cannot by law be cut down and there are many stone walls here of great significance and heritage to this area.
Another very important issue is the potential loss of sun to our properties, the north east aspect one of the main reasons for purchasing my property where I get the sun all day and to lose this would greatly impact my quality of life. There are many questions to be answered in relation to this huge proposed development.
Roslyn Davies

To whom it may concern, we would like to register our objections to the Didio st development on the grounds of ruining the environment. The area in question is home to a herd of productive cattle as well as a family of wild deer, wallabies and an abundance of bird life. There is a large Moreton Bay fig tree that will be under threat as well as several other species of fauna and flora. There are several heritage listed stone walls across to property. The creek that runs through the property regularly floods and drains into the Spring Creek wetlands. We are also very concerned about our loss of privacy to our property which is on the boundary of the proposed development. Any dwellings constructed near our property would cause loss of sunlight to our courtyard, kitchen and our lounge and living room. The access road via Didio St regularly floods which causes road closures that severely impacts local residents in the event of an emergency. Thank You.

I am a local resident and I live on one of the streets opposite Dido St. I walk through the Spring Creek Wetland reserve regularly and am also very familiar with the streets in that area. I was shocked to read that a development of 67 residential lots was submitted for the specified location. The bridge over Spring Creek on Dido St is little more than a causeway that floods. The Dido St crossing was flooded several times in 2022, with floodwater causing the Jamberoo Rd and Dido St intersection to be closed for hours.

With approximately 1.4 cars per household (I believe this was around the estimated traffic movements generated per day per household in the Kiama area in 2021, as published when the West Kiama development was initially tabled) there could be an additional 93.8 cars or more moving across the existing bridge and back each day. Past the Glenbrook Drive intersection, Dido St narrows considerably allowing for little in the way of off-street parking for the parking overflow required for a 67-lot residential development. The Pre-School on the corner of Glenbrook Drive and Dido St further complicates the access and parking situation that could predictably cause safety and traffic issues, not to mention access when Spring Creek floods and the Dido St bridge closes.

Logistics aside, I am deeply concerned about the value the current Kiama Council places on the Spring Creek Wetlands. In March 2023, Council expressed interest in selling off its Spring Creek assets, including a 9.2 ha parcel of residential zoned land extending from Glenbrook Drive right up to the riparian corridor of Spring Creek and its wetlands. There was no mention of the need to protect the actual wetlands if it was to be sold off, revealing that financial gain was foremost in the minds of the Council, and our Member for Kiama at the time, who publicly went in to bat for the sale.

Council purchased and restored the wetlands in 1992. The rehabilitation has provided diverse habitats for plant species and wildlife such as migratory and native birds, various small mammals, frogs, reptiles, and the endangered grey-faced flying foxes. As ponds and dams dry up during droughts, Spring Creek Wetlands provide a vital refuge for birds and creatures from the surrounding district.

Additionally, the Spring Creek Wetlands reserve is one of only a few nature reserves within central Kiama, providing a bird hide for bird-watching and tracks that stretch from the dunes at Bombo to the wetlands and rainforest remnants of Spring Creek. How does Council intend to protect and preserve this habitat for the many creatures that inhabit this area and for the wellbeing of its human visitors over time? To my mind, the rezoning of this parcel of land with the intention of building 67 new residences so close to the riparian corridor and waters of Spring Creek deserved an environmental study prior to the rezoning. Looking ahead, the Council’s intention to subdivide its parcel of land into 90 residential lots means that over 150 additional houses and occupants could impact Spring Creek and the wetlands in the near future, with the subsequent run-off and stormwater overflow from these dwellings and occupants certainly impacting this valuable and special environment. Will this be another case of ‘we will cross this bridge when we come to it’ for the sake of financial gain and meeting targets? I wonder how many Councillors have actually walked the tracks of Spring Creek early in the morning or late in the afternoon to appreciate its value. At a time when we should be protecting these habitats for future generations, not ultimately putting them at risk, Council has resolved to prepare the required Planning Proposal to rezone this land from Rural Landscape to Low Density Residential. Done deal I would say!

Allan & Suzanne Mansfield.
1 Dido St Bridge / cause way
The only access to the proposed subdivision floods regularly and has been closed several times in the past year.
The causeway surface is cracked and we don't believe it would support Heavy Construction machinery using it.
With increase traffic flow from the estate the intersection at Jamberoo Rd would be more dangerous particularly with the speed of cars from the west.

2 Dido St.
A very narrow, almost single lane street, which would be dangerous with increase traffic flow, especially with the child care center on the corner of Glenbrook Drive .

3 New Estate access.
Access to the new development would be via Dido St which is very narrow
or Via Glenbrook Drive with the issue that a Large bridge would need to be built at the end of Glenbrook Dr to cross Spring Creek.

4 The development would have to be mindful of shading or blocking the sun on existing
Homes.

5 Drainage.
This would be a major concern as in the past, rainfall the water flowing off the hill would no longer seep into the soil and be absorbed. Storm water would have to be effectively piped into Spring Creek. But then Spring Creek would have to be directed so the flow of storm water would flow to the sea. If this was not done we would most likely have flooding of the Wet lands and also possibly Kiama Cemetery and houses on the east side of Glenbrook Drive and possibly Glenbrook Drive itself.

6 Road Construction.
Because of the slope of the land in the proposed development , access to and from the new properties could be very trying.

7 Access to the properties would be by steep or tilted drive ways meaning the proposed duplexers could effectively be three store's above the road.

8 The trees and shrubbery on the block in question protect much in the way of Wild Life Kangaroos, Deer, Foxes, Wombats and any number of Bird species, The Reason The Wet Land is There.

9 Inclosing I do not see the point in monetary gain in the short term, when Council is opening up a Pandora's Box of problems for existing residents, new residents and future council problems.

This will only mean another 100 or more cars every day up Hothersal Street and into Colley Drive as the new residents take a shortcut home from the north. Colley Drive is already dangerous with any cars parked either side of the street. Added to this, another 100 cars creating more parking problems in town, where there is already insufficient parking spaces.