A $14.5 million unit development is underway in Bowral.
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The construction of 43 units has begun on the corner of Bong Bong Street and Bowral Road, Bowral, on land previously earmarked for a controversial K-Mart development proposal.
The development at 444 Moss Vale Road will feature three separate buildings consisting of one to three bedroom units.
The individual buildings will vary in height from two-three storeys.
The complex will also incorporate a two-level basement car park which provide 95 parking spaces for residents.
The development application was approved in December 2018 by Wingecarribee Shire Council.
It is expected to be completed before the end of 2019 for an estimated cost of more than $14.5 million.
Demolition of existing structures on the site has already begun to pave the way for the new buildings.
The development has been welcomed by Bowral resident Jan Wilson, who was a key campaigner against site's previous K-Mart development proposal.
"It's a very attractive development," Mrs Wilson said.
Property owner and developer Arch De Angelis first lodged a development application for the site in 2012.
The initial proposal was to demolish the existing structures on the site - including the Gardens R Us store - and build a Kmart department store, 10 specialty shops, four residential dwellings and a basement car park. This was rejected by the Wingecarribee Shire Council.
The owner then took the decision to the NSW Land and Environment Court where the proposal was also knocked back in the 2016 appeal.
"[The new development is] better than looking at a big concrete building," Mrs Wilson said.
In an interview with the Southern Highland News in 2016 Mrs Wilson said she was not against development in general, but wanted to see "appropriate developments with consideration of the character of the area".
"I feel very strongly about this," she said at the time.
"People come to Bowral for specific reasons, not to see large-scale developments and shops like K-Mart."
Since then the development of the site has been the subject of much community speculation.
The 7816 squared metre site will feature 1480 squared metres of landscaped garden and a large common lawn. All of the units will have air-conditioning and gas cook tops.
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