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MAY 2009 NEWS ARCHIVES Click here to return to the current News page 29 May 2009 Hotel rescission motion lodged by Cr Fergusson: A rescission motion has been lodged on the approval by Shoalhaven City Council of the development application for a boutique hotel in Huskisson.Council at its ordinary meeting on May 12 approved the DA for the hotel development at 41-43 Owen Street, Huskisson. However, Councillor John Fergusson, with the support of Crs Amanda Findley and Robert Miller, lodged the rescission motion at this week’s ordinary meeting. Cr Fergusson said he believed council approved the development “erroneously”. “The development application as presented to council does not comply in a number of respects with Development Control Plan 54 which covers this area of Huskisson,” said Cr Fergusson. “I am not opposed to the concept of a high-quality boutique hotel in this location and in many respects this is a good proposal. “Nonetheless it should comply with the planning controls in line with community expectations. I would encourage my fellow councillors to recognise this and seek to have council staff and the developer work towards compliance,” he said. “These include issues of height, bulk, setback, articulation, parking, traffic and servicing. In particular, access for the 54-room hotel complex will be from Field Street, which is a narrow residential cul de sac. “No doubt there will be a vigorous debate and I look forward to the opportunity to present the community’s concerns.” From the South Coast Register.
27 May 2009 An open letter to our Council from John Hatton:Why is it that some developers do not have to comply with planning codes and others do? Huscorp in the Nowra Gateway Development was the prime example, proposals in Huskisson and Ulladulla by other developers cost Mayor Watson his job at the last election. Voters also sacked the vast majority of his Shoalhaven Independents team. Hundreds of people packed public meetings in Huskisson and Ulladulla calling for the sacking of council. The new council under Mayor Green approved a private hotel development in Huskisson contrary to amendments to the planning code. This followed the approval of two other four-storey developments in sensitive locations. These approvals were against the wishes of the vast majority of residents. The message is clear. Some developers can successfully lobby council but the wishes of the majority of voters don’t count. If four-storey building approvals make sense in Huskisson then why not approve them in Kangaroo Valley, Berry or Milton? Why are our unspoilt beach and lakeside locations and the towns and villages they embrace considered expendable. Are the people who have invested in a home and lifestyle second class citizens compared to those in Milton, Kangaroo Valley and Berry? Why is it their opinions and considerable rate payments don’t count as much as lobbyists? In answer to a previous letter, Mayor Green said he “stands by the decisions of the previous council”. Pity he didn’t tell us prior to the election. The vast majority of Shoalhaven residents invested their life’s savings to enjoy the beauty, the social and residential environment and the laid-back lifestyle. To allow cherry picking of sensitive beautiful locations by favoured developers for “a quick profit and we’re out of here” is environmental vandalism, economic stupidity and an insult to the voters, ratepayers and employers of the council. Shoalhaven’s beauty is its growth. It attracts tourists, residents, and retirees. It creates thousands of jobs in supply, construction and service industries. To oppose high-rise, especially cherry picking in sensitive beautiful locations is pro sustainable growth. The thrashing of our beautiful beach and lake areas by cherry-picking is council policy. J. Hatton, Vincentia (Letter to the Editor, South Coast Register).
25 May 2009 Rate rise outcry rings hollow: Clr Greg Watson has labelled the Council financially irresponsible for the raft of rises in general rates, water usage charges, tipping fees and the drainage levy at a time when job losses are on the rise and people’s budgets are hurting in the wake of the global financial crisis. Clr Watson has also continued his criticism of council borrowing money to “build monuments to itself”...“The rates and charges buried in the draft budget of Shoalhaven Council’s Management Plan will mean the highest rate increases that we have seen in over 15 years, with the most usual ratepayer being levied a rates and charges with an increase of over eight per cent,” Cr Watson claimed...[Council’s Financial and Corporate Services Director] Mr Peter Dun on Friday..said the average ratepayer was faced with an additional 8.72 per cent in council fees and charges this coming year - up from $1647.60 to $1791.20. From the South Coast Register. Read more…
‘Farcical and misleading’: [Clr] Greg Watson’s attacks on the current Council and the budget have been labelled “farcical and misleading” by fellow Councillor John Fergusson. He pointed out the five per cent general rate rise “is the last of a five year program approved by the State Government and initiated by the former council and the former Mayor, Cr Watson, to ensure the city’s financial is position is sound”. From the South Coast Register. Read more…
20 May 2009 New hotel for Huskisson: Just months ago, several Shoalhaven City Councillors spoke about the need to support planning regulations as they put on hold a “high-quality” development proposal in Huskisson because it did not meet the requirements specified in the development control plan (DCP). However, last week council approved another application for a major development in Huskisson, which Clr John Fergusson claimed also contravened the DCP. “I have no in-principle objection to the [54 rooms and conference centre] hotel , and it may well be a good thing for the village, however it does not comply with the existing DCP,” Cr Fergusson said. He said the DCP imposed a height limit of 13 metres on the motel site “but this DA asked for and received the okay for stairwell intrusions of approx two metres above this to gain access to rooftop recreational areas. “In addition, the DA as currently submitted does not comply with the prescribed articulation and setback requirements. “This, along with the serious issues of adequate parking, waste disposal, service vehicle access and the significant traffic impact on the residents and safety of exceptionally narrow Field Street have not yet been adequately dealt with,” Cr Fergusson claimed. Opposing the motion were Crs Fergusson, Robert Miller and Amanda Findley. From the South Coast Register. The SCR article includes an image representation of the proposed building. Read more…
18 May 2009 Husky to be ‘walled off: The commercial centre of Huskisson was at risk of being walled off from its seaside ambience after Shoalhaven City Council voted to support Development Control Plan 54, according to Councillor John Fergusson. “The supporting of the revised DCP 54 for exhibition and adoption in the presented form is a tragedy for the future of Jervis Bay,” said Cr Fergusson. “This DCP continues to enable the concept of bonus floor and height levels on both sides Owen Street.” Cr Fergusson said the DCP would allow four-storey buildings up to 13 metres in height on the northern side of Owen Street and up to five storeys or 16 metres on the southern side, “with the likely creation of a walled of corridor and overshadowing, isolating the commercial centre from the bayside ambience”. “The vast majority of the Huskisson community has consistently argued for and supported a maximum of three levels [on the northern side of Owen Street] at a maximum height of 10 metres, and a maximum of four levels at a maximum height of 13 metres on the south,” he said. From the South Coast Register. Read more... Rates to rise by 5 per cent: Shoalhaven ratepayers will be forking out five per cent extra in their council rates this year....To help all citizens check their current land valuation and the impact this will have on their rates for 2009/2010, council has placed a rate calculator on its internet site at www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au. The five per cent rate rise across the board comes as the fifth and final year of a special variation in rate pegging approved by the Minister for Local Government during the last council term. Council figures reveal the special variation, which is 1.5 per cent above the rate pegging limit of 3.5 per cent announced by the State Government recently, is due to raise $4.48 million during the coming year. The biggest allocation for that money is a local Road Repair Program costing $1.377 million, while an additional $619,333 is due to be spent on roads maintenance. From the South Coast Register. Read more...
15 May 2009 Water fight ends with 30pc increase: A last-ditch attempt to limit rises in water rates has been lost, with former mayor Councillor Greg Watson unable to win any support during Shoalhaven City Council’s meeting on Tuesday night…. “If councillors are listening they will hear a murmur, a murmur coming from the community that this will cost jobs,” Cr Watson said as he battled against the move to lift water usage charges from $1 to $1.30 per kilolitre.Cr Watson claimed one particular business in South Nowra would have to pay an extra $10,000 per year for water, a figure disputed by Shoalhaven Water director Carmel Krogh....An average user would pay an extra $48 in water costs, Ms Krogh said, but Cr Watson claimed the average figure was distorted by the large number of absentee landlords in the region who used little water. He said families living in the area permanently were more likely to face bills about $100 higher, particularly if they wanted to grow gardens. While Cr Watson claimed the price rise would impact on the local economy, Cr Amanda Findley said it would stimulate businesses involved in water saving and grey water initiatives. “We will even stimulate businesses into looking at new ways of water savings,” she added. While Cr Watson had advocated offsetting price rises by using part of the $30 million set aside for future expansion of water systems, Cr Findley said the surplus needed to be retained “otherwise we’ll end up as irresponsible as the State Government, which is spending its surplus”. While Cr Watson called for a report of the way increased charges could be phased in, he was told all the options had been ruled out in earlier votes by councillors. All councillors present at the meeting except Cr Watson voted to proceed with the increased water costs, which have been placed on public exhibition as part of council’s draft plan of management. From the South Coast Register. Read more...
13 May 2009 Katrina will be missed: As I read Friday's edition I was sad to see that Katrina Dal Molin would be writing her column and articles no more. I shall miss reading her informed and well written comments, as she showed a keen interest in the events and happenings of the Shoalhaven area and, of course, kept an eagle eye on our political scene. I have had the pleasure of meeting Katrina on a few occasions and much appreciated her genuine interest, her warm personality and happy smile. I would like to pass on to Katrina my very best wishes for her future career and her travel to Ireland. She will be missed by many. From a Letter to the Editor, South Coast Register. Read more...
New figures reveal a shameful rate of alcoholic violence: Shoalhaven is one of NSW's worst areas for alcohol-fuelled violence. A new Social Profile Report released by the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing showed the Shoalhaven's rate of alcohol-related assaults was 52 per cent above the NSW average. Even worse was the Shoalhaven's rate of alcohol-related domestic assaults, which was 65 per cent above the state average. Alcohol-fuelled assaults in the Shoalhaven not linked to domestic violence were 44 per cent above the state average. Less than 30 per cent of all alcohol-related assaults took place on licensed premises. The report showed drink-driving rates in the region were 24 per cent above the NSW average. From the South Coast Register. Read more...
Port Macquarie a poor example: Firstly, to Mayor Green I offer a bit of advice: the Port Macquarie centre experienced a cost blowout, which ultimately led to the sacking of the council; the centre was closed when I visited the area in November last year – not a good example to draw on at all....The SEC should not be run as a business unit of council; that, in itself, is part of the problem. It would be more advantageous if it were an incorporated body in its own right with a board of directors experienced in governance and modern business practice and, most importantly, an adequate budget allocation. This, I believe, was what the NSW government did with the Sydney Entertainment Centre very early in its life. From a Letter to the Editor, South Coast Register. Read more...
11 May 2009 MONEY TO BURN - Entertainment centre losses set to exceed $1m this year: Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre is in the spotlight following revelations about how much money it is expected to lose in its first year. What was thought would be an operating loss of about $300,000 per year has blown out to $1 million in its first year, followed by predicted $600,000 and then $300,000 in the following two years. Shoalhaven Mayor Paul Green encouraged the community not to be too focused on the figures, saying it was unusual for such centres not to operate at a financial loss. “I believe the one in Port Macquarie loses more than $4 million per year and Penrith about $1 million,” he said. Cr Green said entertainment centres were like swimming pools in that their social capital could not be quantified in dollar terms. From the South Coast Register. Read more…
‘It’s time to take a stand’: Former Shoalhaven City Council assistant general manager Paul Dean believes it is time for the community to take a stand against council and continued rate increases. His call comes in the wake of a council recommendation that could see local residents and businesses hit with a 45 per cent increase in water usage charges. Last week the recommendation was pushed over the line by just over half of the councillors but will be debated again thanks to a rescission motion moved by Cr Greg Watson. Mr Dean said it was time for local residents to make some noise about decisions he believed should not be made. “Somewhere you have to draw a line at the way council has rapaciously hit us for rates all the time,” Mr Dean said. “At no point can we see them working to be a more efficient council.” From the South Coast Register (on 4th May 2009). Read more…
8 May 2009 Over-development will ruin region: In an article by Katrina Dal Molin entitled 'Boom: local tourism flourishes...' (SCR, April 19) comments were made by Mayor Paul Green. I noted them with keen interest and wondered at the sincerity of it. If Mr Green thinks "we do live in a sensational city with abundant natural charms, great rivers and estuaries, a stunning Jervis Bay, superb clean beaches and great amenities", why then does he not try to preserve those natural charms? As one who is lucky enough to live on Jervis Bay – a wonderful marine park and source of natural untouched beauty – I am a little disbelieving of Cr Green's comments. The question I would put to Cr Green (and other councillors) is, why ruin such natural beauty by allowing the building of ugly high-rise, high-density buildings by greedy developers in the small villages around the bay? The reason "visitors numbers grew by 16 per cent" was because people appreciate the natural beauty that is Jervis Bay and its surrounding natural parks and forests. In good times and bad, families want to relax and get back to nature. The Shoalhaven has it all over many local government areas to the north of Sydney where large hotels and over-development have spoilt what natural beauty there was. No village around Jervis Bay has suitable infrastructure to support high-rise, high-density buildings. Roads, water supply, kerb and guttering, and suitable drainage are sadly lacking in most villages. Why spoil our wonderful clean beaches and water with over-crowding and pollution. Visitors enjoy the small casual village atmosphere, which adds to the charm of the Shoalhaven and Jervis Bay. If Mayor Green lives by his word, then I hope that his statement that "At council we are continually working to ensure that our city maintains these qualities..." rings true. From a Letter to the Editor, South Coast Register. Read more...
Tighter purse strings impact on pools: Shoalhaven City Council’s Crown Reserve, Community and Commercial Operations Committee has recommended some tough changes to the operations of pools in the next financial year, slashing supervision periods and drastically cutting back seasonal staff hours. The committee resolved "Council supervise sea pools (Huskisson and Ulladulla) only during the NSW summer school holiday period for approximately six weeks, 6am to 6pm, six days per week. For the remainder of the season (November to April) the pool be maintained only by the daily site visits for two hours for cleaning and pool plant maintenance." The move would save council a net amount of $59,937. The decision was also extended to village pools in Berry, Shoalhaven Heads, Greenwell Point and Milton, with supervision for the same period seven days a week. By reducing the supervision to six weeks council would save $117,944. The decisions will be put to [full] Council next week [Tues 12th May] for final determination. From the South Coast Register. Read more...
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