DAs In Play to 19/8/20

The CPPA endeavours to provide a summary of active applications in our area as outlined in the table.

Please consult LMCC’s website for a full listing: https://www.lakemac.com.au/Development/Planning-and-development-services/Application-Enquiry.

DA=Development Application

BC= Building Information Certificate

TA=Tree Assessment

CC=Construction Certificate,

CDC= Complying Development Certificate,

REF= Review Environmental Factors

SC=Subdivision Certificate.

DA UpDAte

The approval for Anglican Care’s the Aged Residential facility on Laycock Street has been granted.

It went before the Hunter Central Coast Regional Planning Panel on 15th July by videoconference.

Lifestyle (Hirecraft) Marina site -Decision coming

At the Council meeting on 10/9/18 Councillors deferred their decision on DA 1835, 151-155 Brighton Avenue, pending a site inspection on 20/9/18 to evaluate the impact of the proposed height and bulk variation to the standard development. 

At the meeting a spokesperson for nearby residents, Reg Crick, outlined the non-compliance issues, the building bulk is exceeded by 32.5% and the height exceeds the planning guidelines by 2.2m

“No where along the entire shores of Lake Macquarie is there a building or project that even goes close to resembling the bulk, height and scale that is proposed by this current application. We dispute that the variations on bulk and height are justified as being ‘in the public interest’. How can the proposed variation of a massive 32.5% be in the public interest when it will constrain the visual and recreational amenity of Toronto and the Lake Macquarie foreshore forever?”

The lack of notice provided to the community of the pending determination was another reason for calling of the site inspection which will be held 4:30pm, Thursday 20/9/18 on the site.

The final determination will go before the Councillors at the next council meeting on Monday 24th September, at 6:30pm. 

There will be a public forum address at 5:30pm as well. A great opportunity to see how the machinations of local government play out.

DA’s in Play

In the past month

• Approval was given to demolish an existing dwelling at 41 Skye Point Rd
• Under assessment still is the 1 into 3 lot subdivision at 69 Coal Point Rd
• Approval was granted for additions and alteration at 202 Skye Point Rd
• Approval granted for extensions at 15 Robey Cres
• Awaiting requested information for a garage and retaining walls at 273 Skye Point Rd
• Awaiting information requested for dwelling alterations and additions at 215 Coal Point Rd
• Approval granted for 3 trees to be removed at 48 Amelia St
• Amended plans on notice 26 Multiple dwellings to 24 Multiple dwellings at 20 Laycock St

This information is publicly available via LMCC's Application Tracking system and summarised here for community convenience

20 Laycock St proposal- DA1274/2013

On behalf of the community The Progress Association sought and was granted an extension to the notification period until 6^th May and requested that those who had previously lodged comments be advised of the amended plans.

The proposed development of 26 multiple dwellings at 20 Laycock Street has been amended, reducing the development by two dwellings to accommodate access to the site, access for garbage storage and an expanded community area.

The 2-storey units have been split into pairs to accommodate changes in levels across the site and reduce the perceived bulk. The number of structures has consequently increased from 9 to 12. There are twelve 2 bedroom and twelve 3 bedroom dwellings proposed.

The amended plans are available on council’s Application Tracking website. The documentation is dated 17/2, identified as ‘Additional Information’ D06892475 and D06894195. A copy of the amended application is available from the blog as well.

An overall site plan was not publically available so the diagram below is a modified shadow diagram to allow people to gain a perspective on the proposed development.

To lodge a comment on the amended plans you will need to email or mail your views to LMCC; council@lakemac.nsw.gov.au or Box 1906 HRMC, NSW 2310.

• if your previous comments remain pertinent a statement to that effect will suffice you don’t have to write a completely new, detailed submission,
• you can copy and paste your previous submission  or
• write a completely new one.
• If your issues have been addressed, make that known as well
• If you didn’t make a comment previously you can now have your thoughts heard 

The important thing is to make your views known. This is an opportunity to ensure that the development aligns with the aspirations of a community that enjoys and respects the local environment and the existing residents within it.

The Coal Point Progress Association and Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group still have concerns about the scale and impact of the development on the local community, existing infrastructure and wildlife corridor, whilst acknowledging it would be ‘good for business’ at the Carey Bay shops.

The comments made on the original application last October remain relevant and can be viewed on the blog.

Comments on the amended application are outlined below in the form of a sample letter which is also available on the blog.

Locally lodged DA’s

The DA details are available through LMCC’s Development Application Tracking Service and summarised here for community awareness.

Since the last Chronicle there have been DAs lodged which include

• 69 Coal Point Rd - 1 into 3 lot subdivision 

• 202 Skye Point Rd- Additions 

• 142a Skye Point Rd -Tree removal - lodged

• 15 Robey Cres - Extensions - awaiting determination

• 3 Robey Cres- Remove 2 trees and prune 3 - approved

• 273 Skye Point Rd- Garage & retaining Wall - awaiting determination

• 215 Coal Point Rd- alterations - under assessment

• 233 Skye Point Rd- Tree removal - approved

• 48 Amelia St- Remove 3 trees - lodged

• 6/37 Laycock St- extensions - approved

• 5/37 Laycock St- patio covers - approved

• 20 Laycock St- 26 Multiple dwellings - awaiting information requested

Development Tracking.

LMCC provides a development application tracking service to help inform people of the developments that are occurring across the city. You can search broadly by suburb, or narrowly by street or house number. 

A search under Coal Point reveals that locals are seeking compliance for their swimming pool, slipway and jetty extension, boat shed, dwelling and alterations, retaining wall, garage & additions to pergolas, patio roofing. There is a whole house is planned for demolition at 125 Skye Point Rd and a new one proposed to be built at 1 Ellis Close.

If you search under Carey Bay you’ll find where additions & alterations, desks & patios are being put. Where lots are being subdivided, such as 1 into 2 at 91 Excelsior Pd, where trees are earmarked for removal, that the proposed Child Care Centre at 1/17 Laycock was rejected back in July and the 26 Dwellings on Laycock street is awaiting information to be provided.

DA daze no more

The Progress Association was fortunate to be able to meet with Council’s planning gurus recently to gain a better understanding of the Development Application (DA) process and how the community can participate more effectively.

The hierarchy of planning instruments was explained. State legislation requires all councils to have a Local Environmental Plan that provides the overarching guidelines of what is permissible in the various zones.

The Development Control Plans are the Council’s detailed design guidelines that determine how developments impact ‘on the ground’ and the controls that can be put in place, to get the best outcome that fits in with the City’s Vision.

When a DA is lodged a council officer is allocated to the project depending on the experience of the officer, workload and the complexity of the application.

One of the most interesting bits of information gleaned from the meeting was that not all DA’s have to be notified. DA’s that do not require notification include 

• Development of a minor nature that will not adversely affect the amenity of adjoining land or locality.
• New residential dwelling houses up to and including two storeys, with a maximum height of eight metres measured from existing ground level; and
• Additions to residential dwelling houses up to and including two storeys, with a maximum height of eight metres measured from existing ground level.

The details of the other exemptions from notification are in DCP Section 1.9. 

The most effective way to get your views on DA’s heard is to make your views known…to Council, to Councillors, your neighbours, your friends and even your long lost aunt if she has a connection to the community. The more people that contact the Council the more ‘complex’ the application and more senior people will have to consider the merit of the proposal. The more community comment the more personnel involved. If it becomes ‘controversial’ or is very expensive, Councillors will also be involved. Most applications are dealt with under delegated authority to Senior Council staff not the community elected Councillors.

Getting your point across is important too. You don’t have to have a planning degree but you do have to plan what you say. Emotions cloud the issues so try and make logical arguments based on your understanding of the community and the impacts of the development. Some of the areas you may want to make comment on scenic quality, tree preservation, heritage, waste management, stormwater, transport and access, community character, landscape design. You can have a look at the DCP guidelines  to get a feel for some of the areas you may want to comment.

The ‘planning gurus’ said that talking about your broad concerns is very valid as well and the final bit of advice was to use your Council Officers and talk to them.

Keeping up with what developments are happening locally has been made easy by Councils Development Tracking System which also includes a map and recent listings.

Sincerest thanks to LMCC for providing the staff and the time to talk to the Progress Association about the community concerns over recent developments.