Blue Mountains News

You can provide your written submission by:

• Online survey at here
• Emailing EPSKGCPrecinctPlan@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
• Posting a submission to Manager, BMCC City Planning, Locked Bag 1005, Katoomba NSW 2780

Some misleading information has been circulating in the community about what Council is proposing at the site.

Council CEO Dr Rosemary Dillon said: “The site presents a unique opportunity to create a sustainable and adaptable Planetary Health Precinct.

“There have been some misunderstandings and misinterpretations around Council’s proposals, so I urge residents to read the Draft Precinct Plan, as well as the information below that addresses some of these misunderstandings.

“The draft Precinct Plan is a guiding document to inform future development and detailed design. The designs and proposals are presented at a concept level for the community to give their feedback before they are finalised.

“Please have your say by the closing date – 28 April. The survey is quick and easy to do, or you can make a longer submission if you wish. Thanks to everyone who has already provided feedback.”

Some of the misconceptions around Council’s proposals are:

Council is proposing to limit community access

While the draft Precinct Plan does identify that some activities that would require access to be managed for environmental protection or events, it is proposed that most of the site is publicly accessible.

No provision for dogs or their owners.

Based on community input in early engagement and acknowledging the current informal use of the site, dog exercise has been considered in the draft Precinct Plan and proposes that dogs would be permitted in designated areas on leash. This is to ensure that a full range of activities can occur on the site in a complementary way, and that environmentally sensitive areas can be managed. The Council currently offers 14 dog off-leash areas across the Blue Mountains with 8 of them located between Wentworth Falls and Blackheath and three of them are in Katoomba at Katoomba Falls Reserve (near the former golf course), Melrose Park and Bureau Park.

Open space to be turned into a carpark

While the draft Precinct Plan proposes some carparking along Acacia Street, this location is close to access points and is distant from environmentally sensitive areas. Any carparking would be sensitively designed to consider amenity of surrounding neighbours, sited below the road, and incorporate landscaping to minimise any potential visual impact.

Much of the area to be fenced off

The former golf course site is already currently fenced. The Plan proposes establishing access points from surrounding streets that will connect into points of arrival and circulation pathways. Some environmentally sensitive areas or certain activities may need fencing or landscaped edges to manage access but the draft Precinct Plan confirms that large areas of open space within the site remain and it is not proposed to fence or separate these.

Retail shopping and commercial nursery proposed

No commercial nursery is proposed and extensive retail activities are not proposed. The draft Precinct Plan highlights the potential for a range of activities related to the growing of plants and potential space for a plant nursery with community groups.The draft Plan includes reference to some small-scale retail associated with such activities as a café on the site.

Scope expanded to cover whole site (not just clubhouse)

The precinct planning process has included the whole site (both the former golf course and the former clubhouse building) since 2020 and was presented to the community in this way during early engagement in 2021.

Concerns free public access is to be limited

The former golf course site has been accessed informally since ceasing operation, despite the land not being a public park or formal recreation space. The draft Plan acknowledges this and proposes that public access be formalised across the site for passive recreation, as well as creating spaces and facilities for use by the community.

Increase in vehicular traffic will impact amenity

Any proposed development at the site would result in an increase in traffic and the potential for amenity impacts from vehicle movement have been carefully considered. The draft Plan proposes creating the primary access point to the site off Acacia Street near the existing vehicle entrance to the former clubhouse. This point is close to the roundabout off Cliff Drive, the primary arterial route around the escarpment, and would minimise vehicles needing to use local streets to access the site, thereby limiting impact. The plan does identify that there would be vehicle access from other street frontages for servicing or activities that would have less frequent vehicle movements and lower volumes of traffic, to minimise any amenity impacts on these streets.

Concern about ‘major events’ being held on site

The concept designs illustrate small to medium sized spaces and major events are not suggested in the draft Plan.

‘Temporary accommodation’ concerning and restricts the use of the entire Stuarts Road fairway.

The draft Precinct Plan includes short term, or temporary, accommodation as a proposal over the long term, to be used ONLY in association with other activities on site, such as for visiting students and researcher, and artists in residence. The concept design shows a small number of accommodation spaces along the Stuarts Road fairway, but design and exact location have not been finalised. Feedback received during public exhibition will inform further review, and any detailed designs would be part of a future consultation with the community.

Get more information at: here