Not too long ago, developers were circling on the Owen Street car park in Huskisson, with hopes to build a four-storey development.
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Community outrage was so intense, this never came to fruition.
Cr Joanna Gash admits she lost her position as Shoalhaven mayor for her pro-development stance.
That didn’t prevent her from presenting a motion to council which reopened the can of worms on Tuesday night.
The recommendation proposed that council calls for an urgent briefing on the status of council-owned land (car park) known as 59 Owen Street Huskisson and at the briefing include all past community initiated plans that were compiled with outside consultants at many forums and open days.
Fellow councillors were shocked the issue had resurfaced again.
“This was a massive issue, to go back to all the dodgy developers the old councillors entertained, I find very surprising,” Cr Andrew Guile said.
“It’s ridiculous.
“We turned it into community land, the community wanted that.
“We acted in good faith on behalf of the community.”
Around 180 community members attended briefings about proposed developments two years ago.
“If you knock out a car park without replacing it, you’ll not only be lynched by business owners, you’ll be lynched by residents,” Cr Greg Watson said.
Cr Bob Proudfoot pointed out that earlier in the agenda, Cr Gash had pushed for more parking at Huskisson.
“The Shoalhaven Independents gave a commitment to make sure it’s kept as community land,” he said.
“There’s a magnificent view that needs to be protected.”
Cr Gash defended her motion.
“I’m not asking for zoning to be changed, I’m just asking for the land to be used for the community’s benefit,” she said.
A majority of councillors supported the motion.
FOR: Crs Gash, John Levett, Patricia White, John Wells, Kaye Gartner, Nina Cheyne
AGAINST: Crs Guile, Watson, Proudfoot, Mitchell Pakes
ABSENT: Crs Annette Alldrick, Amanda Findley, Mark Kitchener