Traffic, flooding and the consequences of population growth were among the topics of discussion raised at a meeting about the Chelsea Gardens and Coommungie development this week.
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About 55 people attended the invitation-only meeting, which was held at Moss Vale Golf Club on Tuesday, October 16.
Aoyuan International representatives spoke about the development, while residents for and against the project voiced their opinions and asked questions.
Aoyuan International development director Greg Hynd said at this stage it had a preliminary model for traffic and flooding, and relevant engineers and the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) would still need to look at these matters.
The team aims to have a development application ready by the end of the year.
The lot size has decreased from about 1500 lots to 1100, which will be released over eight to 10 years.
Moss Vale Community Association president Alan Hunt was quick to highlight his concerns about the development.
"It was knocked back four times by council, but then approved by the state government. Not sure why but it has happened so we need to make sure the issues are covered,” Mr Hunt said.
"The current traffic in Moss Vale is horrific - add 40 per cent to the population [with this development] and it will affect every person in Moss Vale.”
Mr Hunt also said he was concerned about the approach to flooding into White's Creek in the plan, and suggested the ponds identified on the current preliminary design proposal were not detention ponds.
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Mr Hynd said they were detention ponds, and pointed out the traffic modelling was a complex issue and the process was not yet finished.
"We have retained a professional engineering firm to look at this,” Mr Hynd said.
"It is not expected to be easy to solve but we are aware of the problem and will need to work closely with Wingecarribee Council and the RMS. We don't have the answers yet."
Mr Hynd said the modelling regarding flood management was also a work in progress.
Councillor Ian Scandrett also raised questions about traffic and flooding.
Moss Vale Golf Course club captain Alan Hollis said he liked what was presented at the meeting.
"The [traffic] issues in town are not to do with you [Aoyuan] as a developer. Wingecarribee Shire Council has left us behind for too long. A bypass should have been dealt with many moons ago,” Mr Hollis said.
"It is up to council to ensure we can grow. This is a great presentation."
Councillor Garry Turland asked that assurances be given that some low cost housing options be made available.
Mr Hynd said affordable housing was “definitely on the agenda”.
"How we do it is not yet known but it will be done in consultation with Wingecarribee Council,” he said.
Adrian Liaw added that there would be value for the wider community.
"This project from a cost point alone will be $200 to 300 million dollars over the next 10 years, with the intent this be spent in the HIghlands where ever possible for the benefit of the community,” Mr Liaw said.
Cr Turland also pointed out the Illawarra Highway was an RMS problem.
"This is a major development that the state wants so hopefully we can put pressure on the government to pay more attention to the traffic problem [on the Illawarra Highway],” he said.
Questions were also raised the development drawing business away from the Moss Vale CBD and schooling provisions to cope with the potential growth of the area.
A suggestion was made by Terry Oakes-Ash that a consultative committee with council be formed.