DA news, plus a good clean-up

Thanks to NIRAG secretary Ross Dearden and the Thirroul Village Committee for producing this report

The Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group (NIRAG) and Thirroul Village Committee (TVC) are local community groups that work on issues that affect residents.

NIRAG is presently also representing the Neighbourhood Forum 3 (NF3) area from Woonona to Austinmer and the TVC mainly Thirroul. The TVC and NIRAG recently worked together on the proposed Development Application (DA) known as Lot 101 Amy Street, Thirroul (DA-2021/1324) due to the impact the proposed development would have on the neighbouring residents and the wider community.

NIRAG and the TVC met with the developer, and later with neighbouring residents about the proposal, which involves two sites in McCauley’s Estate, Bulli and one off Amy St, Thirroul.

There are two lots to the east of Panmills Drive in McCauley Estate. To enable driveway access to these lots, the DA before Council proposed that a portion of the public walkway/cycle path known as Wilkies Walk, off Panmills Drive, be demolished and rebuilt at a later date south of its current location. The DA also sought approval to allow building on a small 323sq m parcel of land fronting Amy Street where the minimum block size is 450sq m. This is 29% below the minimum block size. Development on this site would lead to the closure of the cycle and pedestrian access from Amy Street to Corbett Avenue.

Due to Council’s deemed refusal of this DA, the developer lodged an appeal with the Land and Environment Court (LEC), which resulted in a Conciliation Conference being held on site on Wednesday, 12 October. Five local residents, including a TVC representative, spoke to the Commissioner of their concerns about the development that is proposed on both sites. A large number of residents living near the two sites attended, along with the developer, Council staff, development experts, legal representatives for both parties and the LEC Commissioner. The matter has been adjourned until 2 November.

DA at 254 Lawrence Hargrave Drive

On Tuesday, 11 October the TVC made representation to the Wollongong Local Planning Panel (WLPP) outlining concerns about the design and setback of the proposed DA for commercial space at 254 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul. The site is located immediately adjacent to the single-storey, heritage-listed Methodist Church, now repurposed as Thirroul Post Office. The TVC felt that the flat roof design proposed did not fit in with the surrounding buildings and believed that a pitch roof form would be a more appropriate and sympathetic design given the context and nature of properties to the east.

The TVC also felt that the proposed building should have been set back further from the footpath to allow more visibility of the heritage-listed building and a safer pedestrian pathway. Unfortunately, not all members of the WLPP nor Council shared this view so approval has been granted. (Above is an image of what is proposed.)

Volunteers clean up

NIRAG and the Hewitts Creek Bushcare Group organised our Annual Rise and Shine Clean-up on Monday, 10 October along Hewitts Creek and behind the beach to Sandon Point. Even after the rain and big storm seas it was pleasing to find that there was very little plastic and rubbish amongst the drift wood and debris along McCauleys Beach this year.

Upcoming Meetings

The next NIRAG / NF3 meeting will be held on Wednesday, 2 November at the Bulli Community Centre Hall, Bulli, at 7pm. Representatives from Council will attend and all are invited to come along to help contribute to improving our local area. You can contact NIRAG by email: nirag@bigpond.com or send a text to 0411 484 166 (Ross Dearden, Hon Secretary).

The next TVC meeting will be held on Sunday, 27th November at the Thirroul Railway Institute (TRIPS) Hall, Railway Street Thirroul starting at 4pm. Residents are invited to come along. This will be the final meeting for 2022. Email tvc@internode.on.net