Kiama Council has been notified that, after an independent review of the Department’s decision, the Minister for Planning has approved the 40ha South Kiama Planning Proposal which will see the rezoning of the land to residential (444 lots).

The Planning Proposal, which was rejected twice by councillors and opposed by Central Kiama Precinct and the Member for Kiama Gareth Ward, was approved by the Department in October.

However before it was gazetted, an appeal to the then Planning Minister, Rob Stokes, led to the unusual step of an independent review being undertaken.

The developer, Graham Morcom of White Constructions, always expected this outcome.

“They need the land down there, and the quicker it gets on the market the better,” he says.

A site specific Development Control Plan will need to be devised for the land before a DA can be lodged.

The land, between Weir St and Saddleback Mountain Road, was identified for potential development in the Kiama Urban Strategy if needed.

Mayor Neil Reilly and Deputy Mayor Imogen Draisma have both voiced their disappointment with the decision.

“Kiama Council wants to work with the NSW Government on an alternative to the current greenfield development attitude that permits unsuitable, unsustainable and unnecessary sprawl,” says Mayor Reilly.

“This will deliver poor social and health outcomes. The development is car dependant for almost every need, including schooling and shopping, leaving residents without cars isolated.”

Cllr Draisma says if the South Kiama Development proceeds, then significant pressure will be put on roads, schools, and community infrastructure.

“This formed the basis of community and Council objections, and we will continue to pressure the NSW government to address these concerns.”

The NSW Government advice and report of the Independent Review will be considered at the Council Meeting next Tuesday, 19 July.

Mark Greaves of the Central Precinct says, “The decision to approve the rezoning is disappointing, but not surprising. 

“Many people gave up a lot of their time through the proposal stage identifying the reasons why this proposal was unsuitable.

“Kiama residents are aware that development will occur. It is disappointing that planning decisions are made by bureaucrats hundreds of kilometres away that totally differ from local planning decisions and local community concerns.

“The community can look forward to being involved in the next planning stages.”

Mr Ward, who was instrumental in getting the review undertaken, says, “The Coalition came to office promising to return planning powers back to local communities.

“Today’s decision by the Minister for Planning is a total betrayal of this promise and treats the concerns of our local people with nothing but contempt.

Protests were held in Kiama and Macquarie St

“This decision flies in the face of the Government’s own regional strategy which makes specific reference for the need for a housing strategy and the need to protect village character.

“The genuine concerns of locals was not opposition to development for the sake of it. Our concerns were about the capacity of local infrastructure to support such a significant increase in population.

“As a local who grew up and has lived in our community my entire life, I am fed up with seeing the overdevelopment of our region. If the Government thinks this is the last they will hear about this decision, then they are mistaken.

“My focus will now turn to the development application stage in an effort to mitigate the impact of Sydney-centric decision making by politicians who clearly don’t care and a department that has ignored its own strategies.”

The Department says it has made minor changes to the proposal to address concerns and the matters raised by the independent review can be addressed by:

• further master planning
• preparing a development control plan
• developing a development application assessment process.