TFPG update for April 2019

The TFPG continues to communicate with Council and Councillors to raise community 
concerns about the proposed multi-storey development on the Bath Street foreshore site next to the Yacht Club and to suggest better alternative options.

Council is in the process of engaging consultants for both the Bath Street site and the Foreshore Masterplan. TFPG continues to call for the Bath Street site to be included in a proper Foreshore Master plan. We seek a well-structured Town with good urban design and good connections to the Lake and surrounding areas. At some point further community engagement is expected but to this point Council’s insistence upon a tall residential building has been non-negotiable.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) have set a date, April 12th in Newcastle for a mediation session between Council and the TFPG over Council’s continuing refusal to release key background documents (including a feasibility study) related to its proposal. Hopefully, some progress will be made.

TFPG recently obtained access to the individual (identifier redacted) written submissions and on-line survey and social pinpoint comments from the community as part of Council’s 2018 community consultation phase about the Toronto foreshore.

In summary:

• Social pin point comments: A clear majority (84% of primary comments) expressed concerns about the proposed development and provided several alternatives.
• Survey comments: Many comments were related to the proposed development, the need for increased foreshore open space, lack of parking and the need for appropriate infrastructure. About one third (50) of the submissions commented on the Bath Street proposal and, of these, a clear majority (85%) had concerns with and were against the proposal.
• Written submissions: Nearly all the 65 submissions mentioned the proposal. There was almost unanimous (95%) concern with and disapproval of the proposal. About 90% were in favour of community open-space, with or without appropriate small-scale development.

TFPG continues to advocate for alternative options for the Bath Street site that would provide physical improvements and some modest facilities to better serve the community and attract visitors while maintaining good community access to the foreshore and the Lake. To that end, TFPG urges Council’s to use its other commercial town sites for residential and tourist accommodation, not precious foreshore.

Please continue to contact Council and the media to outline your concerns and provide alternative suggestions to improve the Bath Street end of the foreshore for locals and visitors.

What is the Bath Street Development?

Bob Ireland has prepared a presentation that summarises the actions so far with respect to the proposed Bath Street Development. This detailed overview brings you up to speed with what council’s actions have been and what the TFPG - community actions have been. The presentation is in three parts and can be viewed in the Reference Documents section of the tfpg.org.au website.