THERE is considerable community angst over the changes to the DA for Bannisters at Port Stephens.

The DA is considered a ‘major project’ and as such sits with the State Government rather than Port Stephens Council.

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The DA, originally approved in 2011, proposes to knock down existing Bannisters property, a 50-year-old building, and to replace it with multiple buildings with permanent residences, hotel accommodation, dining and retail venues, according to the concept plan.

The community is being invited to comment by 21 January and can find full details at
http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=10703

The Tomaree Residents and Ratepayers Association (TRRA) welcomes, in principle, investment in the redevelopment of the ageing Salamander Shores hotel and in particular the provision of a conference facility.

TRRA believes that the scale of the proposed redevelopment has taken many residents by surprise, however, they have conceded that the battle was lost in 2011 when the original concept plan for a similar redevelopment was approved.

There are several issues which the community may be able to address.

These are the modifications to the approved design and layout, removing serviced apartments and adding six more hotel rooms and 24 more permanent residential apartments.

The key issues for the community remain as they were in 2010 – the visual impact of the new buildings and the traffic implications and environmental impact.

There is, according to TRRA, a height increase of up to 2.2 metres, with the plan now catering to six separate buildings rather than the eight originally approved which may lead to an overall bulkier visual impact.

TRRA are calling for ‘photomontages’ showing the new design relative to the current treeline allowing for a comparison with the photomontages of the approved plan and they believe that the new photomontages should be made public for comment before any decision is made on the Concept Plan.

In the decade since the 2011 approval, traffic on Soldiers Point Road has increased significantly.

The proponent claims that the traffic plans satisfy all relevant parking requirements, although there appears to be no provision for parking associated with the conference facility.

Given the experience with inadequate parking for the Cheeky Dog pub, leading to overflow parking on public land, TRRA and other community groups are questioning whether there is sufficient provision for parking for visitors to the new complex.

TRRA are requesting that a revised and updated traffic assessment, including current and forecast traffic counts on Soldiers Point Road, both at the site and at the Wanda Beach shops ‘choke-point’, should be required and made public for comment before any decision is made on the Concept Plan.

Similarly, the community believes further consideration of parking demand and provision is required.

The Ecological impact of the development is also an area of concern with the impact on the adjacent reserve being highlighted in addition to the unavoidable inevitable loss of 28 trees under or close to the new building footprints.

These concerns are compounded by an unfortunate recent history of excessive and possibly unauthorised clearing of vegetation on the seaward side of the existing hotel by the proponent.

A related concern is the apparent agreement with Council to allow an asset protection zone (APZ) to be established by an easement over the adjacent Council reserve rather than on the proponent’s own land.

The proponent is seeking a modification of the condition in the 2011 approval.

The Bushfire Compliance Report suggests that the APZ on the easement over the reserve could now be scaled back to improve biodiversity outcomes and recommends a further assessment.

Council should support any such change that could improve outcomes for the community and environment.

TRRA believes that the bushfire protection requirements and proposed solutions, including the arrangement with Council for an easement, need to be clarified and made public for comment before any decision on the Concept Plan.

TRRA also says that a full Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR) should be required and made public for comment before any decision is made on the Concept Plan.

By Marian SAMPSON