TRRA Banned from Public Access

TRRA Inc. Press Release: HERE

One Story that Needs to be Told …… if only to say “We Tried”

The headlines in the Examiner “TRRA Barred from Council Meet” (Examiner 30.4.13) would have grabbed your attention. Unfortunately that’s all that many people read.  Hence this story. The reason given by the Mayor was ….. to quote the email received

“…….The Mayor indicated that you have had opportunity to lodge submissions as part of the public consultation process during the exhibition period and, in light of this, your application is deemed to be refused.  I did mention also that you were of the opinion that there are several points arising from the report to Council which only became known to you last Friday however the Mayor was not swayed.”

The submission referred to by the Mayor is the one TRRA submitted (along with 43 other objections in a very short timeframe for comment) in early December last year relating to the 3 Lot subdivision – Lot 2 being for a Big W to connect to the end of the existing centre.

There are many other concerns expressed in earlier submissions in 2010 also available on the TRRA website by drilling through the hundreds of pages we have posted on this development.

We are all well aware that this 3 Lot subdivision is just a staged subdivision of the original 8 lot subdivision put forward in 2010 and which at that time was rejected by the Joint Regional Planning Panel.

The costing estimates (at around $4.4M) this time we believe were planned to bring it under the $5M threshold which would have resulted in consideration by the JRPP again.  Remember too that the Council is both the applicant and the approver and, despite assurances to the contrary, TRRA seriously questions this perceived conflict of interest.

HOW THIS UNFOLDED

TRRA only became aware that this subdivision was likely to come before Council when the Examiner carried the story in April that the JRPP are expected to meet on 16.5.13 to consider the Big W DA because it is well over the threshold for approval by a local Council. Naturally the subdivision of the land and roadworks/infrastructure need to take place before any purchase can be made or work begin on Big W.

Those who objected to the proposal in December only received notification via the post at lunchtime on the Monday 22 April that it was up for approval the next day.  TRRA, to this day, still has not received our notification!

TRRA (and the Councillors) were only able to access the Council business papers on Friday 19 April at 5 pm and then had until the following Tuesday 23rd April to:-

  • read the responses to submissions made;
  • consider the 32 conditions being placed on the development by the Council Planning Department and other relevant departments – all without potential costings
  • the implications of recommended changes to the route of the sand truck movements to Diemars Quarry (now via Wanda Beach Shopping Centre!)
  • a myriad of other issues, eg height of retainer wall, links, bus & pedestrian movements

….. but ….. most of all, still no Masterplan for the whole site.

 

The cost blow out in drainage requirements as conditioned will alone, we believe, ultimately push it over the $5M and should have triggered an approval by the JRPP. It will also result in a considerable reduction in the much publicized profits from the Council “DIY” job.

We did not receive even the estimated costings list from Council until the day after the Council meeting at which this was approved. It is assumed that Councillors were not provided with this fairly basic information as it was not part of the published business papers.

According to Councils own report they plan to remove 32 truckloads of sand per day, which is about 500 cubic metres. By Councils own admission they have 130,000 cubic metres of soil to dispose of, which mean over 200 days of continuous truck movements along Salamander Way and through the Wanda Shop precinct. In short 20,000 truck movements!

There was insufficient time to brief any of the Councillors during those few days (which included the weekend) prior to the meeting.

No wonder the Mayor wanted TRRA silenced!

Not even 5 minutes was allowed from two members, Nigel Waters to speak on the overall concerns about the subdivision and Colin Howard to speak on the research he had done on the sand component movements of this DA.

We commend Cr John Nell in valiantly moving a motion for a deferral which, once defeated, ended in the inevitable outcome.  …..Minimal discussion ……..just another “done deal”.

We accept that it was a unanimous decision in the end but are left to wonder if Councillors had been better informed whether they would have approved this in such a hasty manner.

The presentation Nigel wanted to make on 23.4.13 when denied public access is summarised well in the media release on the top bar Media Releases 2013 above. For those wishing to view the plan and full conditions (and there are many) please go to www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au –Council —- Council meetings ——– Agendas and minutes ———23rd April 2013.  There you will find the substandard subdivision which has now been approved by Council and work will no doubt commence within days!

To repeat once again, TRRA Inc is NOT against development or new shops – we just wanted to see a better plan and protection for the beautiful environment in which we live.  Many thousands of voluntary hours have been spent by many people in our community who have assisted TRRA.  Their contribution was huge and is greatly appreciated.  The enormous effort put into this by Nigel Waters should not go without particular thanks.

Compiled by Margaret Wilkinson, Hon Secretary, TRRA Inc

(As an update for the TRRA e-newsletter to all members – May 2013)

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One Response to TRRA Banned from Public Access

  1. Dick Appleby says:

    Thanks for a great wrap up on this issue Margaret and congratulations to the TRRA team that put a good clear position together. An entirely predictable result from this lopsided, development at any cost Council and it’s all controlling Mayor who will broach no consideration of anyone elses views other than those of his mates that blindly support him. TRRA did make a big effort with the forums that we ran throughout the Council election process to make the Port Stephens public aware of the potential of these people if they gained coplete control. Our predictions are well documented on this website, but this has unfortunately exceeded even our expectations. First the Webcam being unplugged, now a gag on public access, what next? We are in Naples, Italy at the moment, The maffia still runs the show here and the national politics are pretty bad, same same difference I guess, it will probably get worse before it gets any better…….. Arevederche!

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