DEAR News Of The Area,
HAVING reviewed the final State Assessed Planning Proposal for the Jetty Foreshores, I note that nothing whatsoever has been amended to address the major safety issues associated with the significantly increased traffic that will inevitably result from the proposed multi-storey residential development and holiday accommodation.
There are only two access routes: across the railway line via the level crossing, and at the southern end of Camperdown Street, a residential street which runs directly past the Coffs Harbour High School on the road which divides the school from its playing fields.
With six passenger trains and up to 14 freight trains (State Rail, 2023) closing the access at the level crossing every day, the variable and time-consuming delays already cause frustration, and traffic regularly backs up along both Harbour Drive and Orlando Street, especially during holiday periods.
Extra traffic will inevitably cause increased congestion.
Even more concerning to me is how additional traffic generated by the proposed development will impact on safety along Camperdown Street.
We all know that kids and traffic are a dangerous mix; in this case students and staff from a large school (800-plus and growing) regularly cross Camperdown Street to access playing fields, basketball courts and the beach, plus informally and unsupervised at the start and end of each school day.
There is no doubt in my mind that the increase in traffic will significantly compromise student safety and that it will only be a matter of time before a child is seriously injured or worse.
There is an overwhelming public objection against the current proposed development with nearly 70 percent of Coffs Harbour voting against the high-rise residential proposal.
Now with more detail being released we should all be concerned with the impact on road safety in the area.
If you are one of the over 33,000 members of the Coffs coast community who voted NO to multi story development at the foreshores, or like me you are deeply disappointed by the lack of enforceable safeguards provided in this proposal we have a short time to register a formal rejection of the final plan; submissions must be made via the NSW Government website (www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au) by 5pm on 30 June.
Fortunately, unlike the lengthy and misleading planning proposal, making a submission is refreshingly easy and straightforward.
Regards,
Anne KENNETT,
Coffs Harbour.
