Letter to the Editor: Permanent harm to area’s character

DEAR News Of The Area,

PROPERTY and Development NSW is proposing multi-story development at the Jetty.

This approach is supported by our local council.

This proposal will create very significant and permanent harm to the character of the Jetty Foreshore.

Every building in the Foreshore area is single level – the Yacht Club, the new waterfront community building, the Co-Op, the Latitude 30 restaurant, the Fisheries Office, the old Deep Sea Fishing Club, etc.

By introducing large, out-of-character multi-level development there will be significant damage to the character of the Jetty.

The character of the Jetty is driven by its visual appearance and changes to this land that cause “significant permanent harm” will affect all of us.

We say “all of us” because the NSW Electoral Commission reported that, at the 2024 Coffs Council Elections, 68.86 percent of the electors, (49,273 people) voted “no” – none of the foreshore land should be used for multi-level development.

In fact, the multi-level proposal not only flies in the face of community opinion, but it would also appear to be in breach of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 No 203.

This Act must consider whether or not a proposed development complies with the relevant development standards, and such development standards relate to the character of a site.

Common Law in other Council jurisdictions has turned down development that would cause “permanent harm” to the character of the area.

May this common sense-common law approach be a precedent that is followed in any legal battle against the Property and Development NSW and the (current) Coffs Council.

Regards,
Wilson MCORIST,
Bonville.