“I’m in favour of sensible development. This is not sensible development.”
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That is the opinion of Moss Vale resident Jim McAlpine about the proposed Coomungie-Chelsea Gardens development.
The Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) announced on October 27 it had approved the rezoning of land for the proposed Coomungie-Chelsea Gardens from rural to low density residential.
It has an issue that has been debated for more than 10 years.
Earlier this year the secretary of the department was appointed as the Relevant Planning Authority (RPA) - the body responsible for managing the process.
“The decision to transfer the RPA role from council to the Secretary of the Department of Planning and Environment for the final stages does not nullify the process up to that point,” a DPE spokesperson said.
However Moss Vale community members feel their concerns have not been adequately addressed in the rezoning approval.
Mr McAlpine, member of the Moss Vale Community Association, said despite a meeting with Southern Region team leader Graham Towers in August, he believed the flooding, traffic and access issues would continue to be an issue.
“It’s totally unsuitable for the location.”
Mr McAlpine was also concerned the original map sheet and lot size maps associated with the proposal were revoked and new ones adopted in June this year.
He said he was unaware of these changes at the August meeting and questioned whether further consultation should have taken place following the adoption of the new maps.
“I think we were led up the garden path in terms of community consultation,” he said.
Council publicly exhibited the proposal between October and November 2015 and received 90 submissions.
The DPE spokesperson said the proposal had not been changed since 2015 and there was “no requirement” for the department to carry out further consultation.
“The zoning and lots size maps which amended the Wingecarribee Local Environmental Plan 2010 were prepared in June this year and reflect the planning proposal exhibited by Wingecarribee Shire Council in 2015. The proposal has not been changed since that time,” they said. “The issues raised by the public during exhibition of the proposal were considered by the department prior to making a decision.”
The spokesperson said a Development Control Plan would need to be prepared prior to any development.
Council will be required to exhibit the plan.
“It is up to council when it will and what documents will be exhibited.”
