A proposal to build an extra 328 homes in Shell Cove has been given the green light by the Department of Planning and Environment.
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Developer Frasers Property Australia wants to boost home numbers from 1238 to 1566 and increase the height of buildings in the harbour precinct on Boollwarroo Parade.
The original plan for 1238 homes, made public in 2017, sparked the ire of hundreds of residents, who raised concerns about density, traffic, amenity, view loss and building design.
The village can’t cope with the increase of people.
- Alma Ellefsen
Warrigal Shell Cove residents Alma and Carl Ellefsen are less than impressed with the new proposal.
“The village can’t cope with the increase of people,” Mrs Ellefsen said.
“At night both sides of the streets are full of cars and streets become a single lane.”
Lona and Phillip Seaberg live in Shellharbour and regularly shop at the new The Waterfront shopping centre.
“Another 328 dwellings is too many,” Mrs Seaberg said. “It will change the atmosphere of the town if they overbuild.”
However, the department has labelled the increase in density “acceptable”, saying the additional traffic would be unnoticeable and there would only be “minor view loss” on properties located further west of the site.
“The department is satisfied the proposed facility and building heights are acceptable as the proposal would not result in any significant visual, amenity or traffic impacts beyond those already assessed and approved,” a department report said.
Shellharbour MP Anna Watson said many residents had spoken to her about feeling “duped”.
“The lifestyle is not what they bought into. They are concerned their views will be taken away, they are worried about traffic being congested and overcrowding from more people moving in,” she said.
Ms Watson has called for planning minister Anthony Roberts to meet with residents to discuss their concerns before the Independent Planning Commission assessed and determined the revised plans.
Fraser Property’s development director Glenn Colquhoun declined to answer the Mercury’s questions other to say it would be “premature to make a comment because the application was still going through the planning process”.
The original plan includes 1238 homes, a business park, commercial/retail/hotel/community land, wetlands, open space and infrastructure.
