Category Archives: PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

Council votes to allow 8 and 12 storey buldings in Nelson Bay CBD

Press Release Amendments to the LEP and DCP adopted by Port Stephens Council at its meeting on 13 October will clear the way for 8 and 12 story buildings in parts of the Nelson Bay CBD. Two of our three … Continue reading

Posted in PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT | 3 Comments

Ten + storeys flawed solution for Nelson Bay

Ten + storeys flawed solution for Nelson Bay

The centrepiece of Port Stephens Council’s “Revised Implementation and Delivery Program for the Nelson Bay Town and Foreshore Strategy” is a proposal to more than double the present height limit from 5 to 10-storeys (35 metres) backed by an unconditional option to apply for more floors.

The Council argues that this is necessary for new projects to be viable and to attract more permanent residents to bolster retail business which has been struggling.

Advice provided by long established Nelson Bay real estate professionals, and developers suggests that this a false hope, as a blanket 10 + zoning across the whole town area will actually increase uncertainty because new investors will never know if a project’s views will be built out.

TRRA calls for a more fine-grained stepped zoning across the amphitheatre thus sharing views. This would offer greater certainty to developers and unit purchasers.

The Council’s consultants questioned the viability of high rise in the town when fire protection and parking requirements are factored in. They also described the market for high rise apartments as “very thin”. That is, difficult to sell units after the first couple of towers go up. Locals know how long it takes to sell new units now. We have also seen project failures leaving holes in the ground and high levels of mortgage default.

As for permanent residents, evidence shows that apartments 3 floors and over in Nelson Bay have occupancy rates of less than 30 %. Most have absentee owners and are held for weekend visits, holiday rental or capital gain. Adding to this stock will not solve the problems of our retailers.

Council persists with the line “we listened to you and now you have further opportunity to review the strategy”. However, its exhibited document acknowledges that of the 76 submissions received last year mentioning maximum building heights, “the vast majority was against any significant increase”. Council did not listen!

The majority of local residents and visitors place high value on the coastal village ambience of Nelson Bay and the protection of view corridors to the wooded ridges and towards the Bay. These principles were agreed for the 2012 Strategy. Incentives for amalgamation of sites in the town centre and in surrounding areas could attract high quality low and medium rise developments. Implementation of the other recommendations in the Delivery Program for landscaping, public spaces, traffic, parking and signage would demonstrate to developers that the community is serious about growing a vibrant town.

If you care about your town come to the Public Meeting on Tuesday 6 March, 7.00pm at the Nelson Bay Bowling Club.

Geoff Washington, TRRA President

Posted in 2018, HOT ISSUES, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT, TRRA Meeting Notices | 3 Comments

Soldiers Point Marina Update March 2017

Soldiers Point Community Group Inc. To Members and Friends, Up-Date on Proposed Extension of the Soldiers Point Marina: Land and Environment Court Proceedings – Class 1 Appeal – Clippers Anchorage Pty Ltd After the exchange of Reports by both parties the … Continue reading

Posted in 2017, ANNOUNCEMENTS, Council Submissions, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT | 1 Comment

Nelson Bay at the Crossroads

Examiner 07 March 2017: TRRA pushes for strict height limits in Nelson Bay CBD  – Keeping the character or the town Non Negotiable This opinion piece in the Examiner by Nigel Waters, TRRA Planning Committee Convener, will be the last word in the … Continue reading

Posted in 2017, Council Submissions, Planning Issues, Planning Submissions | 1 Comment

February 2017 Newsletter – DA Watch

Our General Meeting, 7:00 pm Tuesday 21 Feb at Nelson Bay Bowling Club is shaping up to be one of the most important for Nelson Bay Residents for some time. Two major issues will be discussed at this meeting. The … Continue reading

Posted in 2017, Council Amalgamations, Council Elections, Council Submissions, D A Watch, Planning Issues, Planning Submissions, PORT STEPHENS COUNCIL, TRRA Newsletters | 1 Comment

DA Watch September 2016

Development News TRRA Inc. continues to monitor Development Applications (DAs) and infrastructure works on the peninsula and, where appropriate, make submissions. Here we report on recent DAs and progress with projects already approved. Height limits In September, we objected to … Continue reading

Posted in 2016, D A Watch, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT, Planning Submissions, TRRA MEDIA & NEWS | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Lawyers Picnic at Lagoons Estate 2016

 Press Clippings Updated to 20 May 2016.  I wonder what the new ‘City of the Hunter Coast Council’ will make of this when they get the multi-million dollar bill next year???  Posted 07 April 2016. 12 Years of litigation, and the only winners are … Continue reading

Posted in 2016, Litagation, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT, PORT STEPHENS COUNCIL | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

TRRA DA Watch March 2016

    Our TRRA Planning Sub Committee monitors all D.A.’s of interest submitted to Council and the Department  of Planning and regularly updates Committee Members on current  submissions etc. We thought that this information should be shared with our membership … Continue reading

Posted in 2016, D A Watch, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Boomerang Park / RT Men’s Shed

TRRA have covered this issue at length in reports to General Meetings and in the report of the controversial 28 July 2015 Council Meeting when it was on the agenda with other contentious issues. This is how we presented the report … Continue reading

Posted in 2016, ANNOUNCEMENTS, Council Decisions, Council Financial, Council Meetings, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT, PORT STEPHENS COUNCIL | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

TRRA DA Watch September 2015

Our TRRA Planning Sub Committee monitors all D.A.’s of interest submitted to Council and the Department  of Planning and regularly updates Committee Members on current  submissions etc. We thought that this information should be shared with our membership so check … Continue reading

Posted in 2015, Council Decisions, D A Watch, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT, Planning Submissions | Tagged , , | Leave a comment