TRRA regularly updates members of critical issues we are reviewing and their impact on the Tomaree Peninsula’s ratepayers and residents.
Little Beach Amenities Development
At a Public Meeting held 25 January 2023, Council officers provided a briefing to residents and users of the Little Beach toilet, change room and disabled facilities on its plans for upgrading the amenities block. The project is part of a general upgrade of Little Beach facilities funded from a mix of funding from Council and State grants including The NSW Regional Tourism Activation Fund and the Recreational Fishing and Camping Facilities Program.
View TRRA’s submission: TRRA submission Little Beach Amenities Development v1-0
Future of Tomaree Lodge site – Umwelt
Following on from the previous Community Consultation Pop Up boothe on site, as listed below in a previous notice, TRRA has presented its submission to Umwelt, the consultants engaged by the Department of Communities and Justice.
In case you need further background information there was an article in the most recent TRRA December Newsletter on this issue with links to the Tomaree Headland Heritage Group’s publications on this iconic site.
View TRRA’s submission: TRRA Inc Submission to Umwelt – Future of Tomaree Lodge Site
Amendments to Port Stephens Development Control Plan 2014
Click here for PSC Explanation of Amendments
View TRRA’s submission here: 221208 TRRA submission on Amendments to PS DCP 2014
Port Stephens Council Environment Policy
Joint EcoNetwork & TRRA Submission
View TRRA’s submission here: 221209 Joint EcoNetwork – TRRA submission on PSC Environment Policy
Revised Tree Vandalism Policy
Port Stephens Council has put forward minor policy changes to this progressively weakened policy.
The Port Stephens Policy has become less effective in clearly explaining all the relevant procedures and criteria and therefore also in serving to educate the community and in deterring unlawful tree removal.
View our current version here: 221125 TRRA Submission Tree Vandalism policy
Draft Hunter Regional Transport Plan
By 2041, the Hunter region is predicted to grow by 100,000 people. To ensure that Transport can support this growth and realise the region’s community vision, it’s time to look at managing the transport network differently.
The draft Hunter Regional Transport Plan (the Plan) provides a vision for how the Hunter’s transport network, infrastructure and services will be managed and developed over time to realise community aspirations.
Click to view our submission: TRRA submission on Hunter Regional Transport Plan
EPA Climate Change Policy and Action Plan
In 2021 the NSW EPA set climate change as a focus area within its Strategic Plan 2021–24. It has committed to taking action to reduce emissions, mitigate climate change impacts and build greater environmental and community resilience aligned with the principles of the NSW Government’s Net Zero Plan. This Climate Change Policy and its companion Climate Change Action Plan 2022–25 set out a clear path for how the EPA will achieve that mission.
Click the link to view TRRA’s Submission to the EPA
Click the highlighted link to view the FINAL EPA Climate Change Policy & Action Plan 2023-2026
LAST POP-UP BOOTH for Community Consultation on Future Use of Tomaree Lodge site
The third and last of the pop-up booths will be offered on Saturday 17 December between 4.00 pm and 7.00 pm on the pathway along the Shoal Bay foreshore leading to the Tomaree Lodge entry gate (approximately 50 metres west from the car Park for the climb to the top of the Tomaree peak).
The booth has two staff from the Consultants, Umwelt, to assist and take comments. Questionnaire sheets are also offered for you to record your views. There are also boards with proposals as to possible future uses to which you are invited to vote on using coloured dot stickers. The consultation is being conducted to provide input to the Department of Communities and Justice which is responsible for the process leading to the NSW Governments determination of future uses of this important site.
In case you need further background information there was an article in the most recent TRRA December Newsletter on this issue with links to the Tomaree Headland Heritage Group’s publications on this iconic site.
Have your say on this important site.
For more detailed information click on the underlined links above.
Greater Cities Commission – Six Cities Region Discussion Paper
The Six Cities Region is a network of connected cities in Australia that lift each other up, while celebrating and leveraging each city’s unique character and strengths. The Greater Cities Commission invited submissions from stakeholders across the six cities . The paper sets out a vision for the future of the Six Cities global city region, which includes
TRRA submission click Here
TRRA has recently made submissions to the NSW Department of Planning on three important documents:
- The Draft Hunter Regional Plan 2041, which sets the planning framework for the region – Click Here
- A new approach to rezonings in NSW – Click Here
- Design and Place – a complex suite of reforms to the planning system – Click Here
We think there are both good and bad aspects to all three initiatives, and have provided our detailed comments.
We made 3 major submissions during January, including for two DA’s that were readvertised after initial submissions expressed strong concerns from the community.
In the case of the proposed Heliport next to the Anna Bay cemetery, which attracted over 80 objections, TRRA believes that the token modifications proposed are totally inadequate and that the development should simply not proceed so close to the cemetery.
Submission Click Here
The readvertised proposed 9 storey unit block on the corner of Yacaaba and Tomaree Streets Nelson Bay totally ignored the issues previously raised about the height and bulk along with significant traffic issues now that Yacaaba St is one way.
Submisson Click Here
The third submission related to the modification of the design for the redevelopment of the Bannisters complex at Soldiers Point which was approved 10 years ago. We have repeated our concerns about traffic (which has become more of a problem in the last decade) and environmental issues.
Submission Click Here
TRRA has prepared three Submission Guides on some important planning proposals on exhibition this month.
- 9-storey Apartment building, Yacaaba St, Nelson Bay – applicants response to submissions and a new Visual Impact Assessment – submissions due by 21 January – Click Here
- Bannisters Hotel redevelopment, Soldiers Point – changes to plans approved in 2011 – submissions due by 24 January – Click Here
- Anna Bay Heliport – additional supporting material – submissions due by 26 January – Click Here
DA 2021-703 for revised ‘Ascent Apartments’ proposal for consolidated sites at 11-15 Church St
http://datracker.portstephens.nsw.gov.au/Application/ApplicationDetails/016-2021-00000703-001/
TRRA Submission
We submit that this DA should be refused, on multiple grounds which we set out
below, following the sequence of the Statement of Environmental Effects (SoEE)
submitted by the applicant.
The main grounds for refusal, either of which should on its own be conclusive, are
• The applicant has failed to make a case for the 29% height exceedance –
see Part 2 of this submission for our critique of the Clause 4.6 Variation
Report
• The applicant has failed to provide adequate evidence to support a proper
assessment of the visual impact. On the contrary, the documented design
of the proposed development would clearly have an adverse and
unacceptable visual impact in the context of the adopted Nelson Bay
Town Centre and Foreshore Strategy Delivery Program. See Part 3 of
this submission for our critique of the applicant’s Visual Impact
Assessment.
For Full Submission – Click Here
