As small business owners in the Shoalhaven we are all extremely disappointed in this result. We as employers were looking forward to outside investment developing a project that would have actually added income to our town that is sadly lacking. This development had the potential to attract major tourism dollars, again something that is now lost. Also lost is the opportunity for driver training for our young people, something that is badly needed.

We are also extremely concerned that a development could take as long as it has, and that state and federal legislation over a plant is so inflexible that the developer walks away. This is something that needs attention desperately.

This town needs to grow and it needs to happen now. The motorsports complex would have done exactly that and the flow-on effects would have been enormous. Those who think that it would not have been the injection of funds claimed have their heads in the sand.

The approximate spend for a non-professional visiting club car would be $2000 per event. Multiply that by a 50 or 60 entry and the amount is substantial. Multiply that by six events per year and it becomes huge. And that is only one category.

As our elected representatives, we need to see some leadership and some direction.

We are not saying that the project was not supported but we believe you all could have and should have done more. We no longer need anything related to beaches, boats or bush. We need solid investment to build or economy.

Anything less than that will be extremely disappointing.

Every time I go to town there is not enough seats out of the rain for the elderly and shops also fail to have a chair in case one is needed whilst the relative/carer shops with them.

My mother gets woozy after short walks. Dymocks was one shop that got a chair out for her and have left it in place since. Very thoughtful. On a recent visit to town a busker offered his seat outside Aldi, which was much appreciated. 

There is plenty of space under cover at Aldi's on Kinghorne Street so what's the problem for a seat?

We are writing this letter to highlight to residents of St Georges Basin and surrounding areas the inappropriate four-storey development proposed for Anson Street at St Georges Basin.

It is totally out of character with the rest of the surrounding area. Council at the time (2012) made a very poor decision indeed to allow a one off block to be rezoned for a 13m (four-storey) development, the only block in all of St Georges Basin and surrounding areas to have such a zoning.

Some of our very real concerns include: a dramatic increase in traffic flow for a small village and insufficient onsite parking.

We also are concerned it’s very high unemployment area, there is insufficient public transport and the RFS does not have the equipment to fight a fire in a four-storey building.

There is also the issue of runoff into the pristine waters of St Georges Basin.

With two levels of underground parking, we are concerned the poisonous carbon monoxide fumes will pollute the very clean air of St Georges Basin, which could be very detrimental to our elderly and those with breathing difficulties.

We are not anti-development, but please, let us have development that is suited to a small village precinct.