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A St Georges Basin resident fears a four-storey development earmarked for construction in her street could change the dynamic of the town.
The $116 million project has been stalled, subject to approval from the NSW Land and Environment Court.
Anson Street resident Maureen Webb has been rallying community members to oppose the proposal.
“It’s totally out character for St Georges Basin,” Mrs Webb said.
“There’s nothing like it here, we have two-storey buildings but that’s about it.”
Her main objection to the development is that she believes the town and the “narrow” street doesn’t have the infrastructure to cope.
The project, as planned, has 15 blocks of flats, 380 apartments, and will bring 1000 new residents to the street according to Mrs Webb.
“Our schools are overflowing,” she said.
“People are having problems with traffic now, it’s a through-way street to the shops.”
Mrs Webb conceded that the waterfront town would naturally attract interest from developers in the years to come.
“Development is natural for our area,” she said.
“I think we’ll be happy with something more acceptable.”
In 2012, parts of the land owned by David De Battista were rezoned, and the height limit was changed, allowing the developer to build up to 13m under the Shoalhaven Local Environment Plan, given the consent of planning authorities.
“They rezoned the land against all advice from council staff,” Mrs Webb said.
“We think it was amazing.”
Recently-elected councillors have since resolved that the height limit should be reduced to 8.5m.
Council’s general manager Russ Pigg has been working on a report, reviewing the building height controls in the Shoalhaven LEP, and council has engaged consultants to provide a justification for the proposal to change the height.
On Thursday, Mrs Webb will attend a council’s community consultation about part of the development at the St Georges Basin Community Centre.
She has urged residents to attend, and lodge their concerns.
The developer has submitted several development applications, breaking the project into sections.
Council has hosted community consultations about various sections of the development over the past three years.
“Residents are getting confused, they've put in comments three times already,” Mrs Webb said.
“It’s an ongoing issue, and the community’s banding together, we have to show it’s the weight of the community doesn't want it.”
Council has encouraged residents to continue forwarding their views.
“We seek comments from our residents when there are separate applications even if they are related to ensure that the community is informed,” council development section manager Cathy Bern said.