Axe To Fall On Gateway Plan

Illawarra Mercury

Monday October 13, 2008

By ALEX ARNOLD

PLANS for a major hotel in Nowra have suffered a further setback, with a development control plan for Nowra's Gateway site set to be overturned by the new Shoalhaven City Council.

Councillors will meet today to discuss the controversial DCP.

But the new council has already flagged its intention to scrap the plan that allows for residential buildings of up to nine storeys neighbouring the hotel and the council chambers.

Described by deputy mayor Gareth Ward as a "DIY DCP", the plan was submitted by the hotel developers Huscorp and approved by the previous council.

This was despite claims the council intended to sell the land below value.

Former Shoalhaven mayor Greg Watson said the new council's decision may have exposed the ratepayers of the Shoalhaven to millions of dollars in potential damages.

He said the decision was made at a meeting last week without any reports from the staff on the ramifications of the move.

Eight councillors supported the motion to repeal the DCP, among them the new mayor, Paul Green, who said during the election campaign the community gave a clear message they did not want a "Gold Coast-style" development at Nowra's Gateway.

Councillor Green said the decision was made before today's briefing as a development application for the site was yet to be lodged.

"Had a DA been lodged we would have been locked in to the plan," Cr Green said.

Cr Ward dismissed the threat of legal action as "a smokescreen".

"My major focus is making use of the waterfront and using the area's natural assets," Cr Ward said.

"I don't believe this site will do that."

In April, a rival development group, Nowra Holdings, lodged plans with the NSW Department of Planning for a four-storey hotel on a nearby riverfront site in Nowra.

In July, NSW Local Government director general Garry Payne wrote to Shoalhaven City Council, asking it to reconsider the decision to sell the land to Huscorp.

Mr Payne expressed concern that some of the land was identified by his department as community land, and the nine-storey apartment buildings had little resemblance to the advertised expressions of interest for the hotel.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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