Letter to the Editor: Commercialisation of the foreshore

DEAR News Of The Area,

THE so-called Community Building that replaced the Vendetta building in the foreshores is but a small example of what will happen to the whole foreshores if PDNSW has its way and introduces residential and short stay accommodation into the area.

We were promised a community building that “would become the central community gathering place across the Coffs Harbour Foreshore Precinct”.

What we ended up with is as far removed from that as it is possible to be.

So what have we actually got?

Toilets and showers, and a space for the Naval Cadets that is not fit for purpose and does not give them the same amenity that their old building did, and let’s not forget the three small lockable spaces for sporting groups.

Apart from that, it appears that the entire remainder of the building has been turned over to commercial interests.

The promised Community Meeting Rooms are now a “Function Centre” run on a commercial basis by the operator of the soon to open adjoining restaurant.

Where does the community fit in with this scenario?

If that’s not bad enough, documents associated with Development Applications for the building show that the upper level has a capacity of 182.

So having introduced this number of patrons into the area, how much car parking has been provided?

Let’s see. That will be three, carry the one, minus four, that gives us a grand total of zero car spaces for 182 people (plus Naval Cadets, patrons of the kiosk and those associated with the three sporting clubs).

But if you have visited the area recently, you may have noticed that we did get five very nice yellow lines to delineate four car spaces that can apparently be used by anyone (This is absolutely bizarre and I look forward to Council’s explanation).

PDNSW have told us that their “revitalisation” project will result in there being 158 less car parking spaces than there are now in the vicinity of this community building.

They also tell us that there will be 300 less off-street carparks than would usually be required by council policies for the commercial premises they are proposing.

Extrapolate this scenario to the entire foreshores and you get an idea of the dislocation that will occur if the foreshores is “revitalised” by the faceless bureaucrats and consultants who don’t live here and won’t have to suffer the consequences of their pie in the sky plans.

It is undoubtedly a portent of an unfolding disaster for those of us who regularly use the area for active and passive recreation and see the foreshore as something more than an opportunity to make a buck.

Regards,
Bruce WEIR,
Coffs Harbour.