PORT Stephens Council has refused a notable Development Application in Shoal Bay.

At the recent Council meeting on 27 September, Councillors Leah Anderson, Giacomo Arnott, Peter Francis and Peter Kafer voted down Development Application 16- 2016-557-2, a modification to approved motel accommodation at 9 Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay.

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The application was rejected for numerous reasons, including that Council does not believe that the environmental impact, both built and natural environment, will be ‘minimal’.

The Council noted that the application proposed to exceed the height limit by 4.05 metres, and would include eleven parking spaces for 21 bedrooms, and a rooftop area that would be disruptive to neighbours and those residing at the subject site.

Council also questioned how the site could be called a ‘motel’ considering the lack of staff and multi-room dwellings proposed.

Additionally, Councillors stated there would be overshadowing of neighbouring properties from the increased height proposed.

Regarding national environment factors, Councillors did not support the Development Application as the land is on a vegetation buffer bushfire prone land adjacent to National Park, with no submitted plans to control the risk of fire spreading to or from the subject site.

The subject site is also directly adjacent to supplementary koala habitat, with no submitted plans to control the risk of koala movements on site or impacts on koalas in habitat adjacent to the site.

Councillors Arnott and Anderson also opposed the application under the premise it was not substantially the same as the original proposed approved development.

Councillors Matthew Bailey, Chris Doohan and Steve Tucker voted in support of the development application, under the Council officers’ recommendation that the modified application was considered to be substantially the same as the approved development and consistent with the aims and objectives of the relevant environmental planning instruments applicable to the subject site.

By Tara CAMPBELL