After 14 years, 11 previous DAs (only one of which was rejected) and a rezoning, approval has now been given for a 60 unit development on the vacant 9,320m2 block of land on the eastern side of South Kiama Drive.

Developer Nick Daoud says the new design he has come up with is a big improvement on the previous design.

“Every unit was looking inward to a central area, but now every dwelling is looking outwards to the surrounding vistas,” he says.

“We always end up improving the DAs we inherit with a purchase.”

He says that the development will take twelve months to complete once started. A start date has yet to be decided upon.

Seven two bedroom units and 53 three bedroom will be housed in four two level buildings.

They will have lift access to a central underground car park, entered from Surfleet Place at the southern end of the development.

While a farm house, which does not appear on the Heritage Register, will make way for the development, the large fig tree will remain a landmark in the area.

After acknowledging community unease about the size of the development, Councillor Andrew Sloan proposed the motion for the DA’s approval.

“An important reason for me supporting this development is that this land was zoned for medium density in 2011 so that we could protect our agricultural lands from further encroachment.”
Councillors Brown, Reilly and Rice voted against the development.