Blue Mountains City Council has voiced its strong opposition to the NSW Government’s decision to declare a major development proposal earmarked for Katoomba as State Significant Development (SSD), warning it represents an unprecedented threat to local planning controls, community safety and the Blue Mountains landscape.
On 13 May last year, the NSW Planning Minister declared the proposal for 142–150 Narrow Neck Road as SSD following a recommendation from the State Government’s Housing Delivery Authority.
The proposal includes more than 200 apartments, over 50 serviced apartments for short-term rental, as well as restaurants and associated facilities on a site surrounded by bushfire-prone land.
Mayor, Mark Greenhill said Council has consistently and forcefully objected to both the proposal and the process used to elevate it to State Significant status.
“Council has worked closely with Trish Doyle, Member for the Blue Mountains, who supports our position,” he said.
“Since May, we have strongly advocated against this proposal and the deeply flawed process that has seen it declared State Significant Development.
“We have written to the State Government outlining our concerns about the inadequacies in the assessment process, but we have received no adequate response.”
Mayor Greenhill described the proposal as “the worst development proposal we have seen in the Blue Mountains.”
“This development is grossly inappropriate for its location. It does not respond to the site’s environmental conditions and would result in significant visual and environmental impacts on one of the most iconic landscapes in Australia,” he said.
“It seeks to double both the height and the density permitted under our Local Environmental Plan. These proposed building heights exceed what you would see in any of our town centres.”
The Mayor said the scale of the development would make it highly visible from the escarpment and from the adjoining Blue Mountains National Park, which is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
“A development of this scale will be visible from across the escarpment and from the World Heritage National Park. It will overshadow surrounding residential areas and permanently alter the character of this part of Katoomba.”
He emphasised that Council’s objection was not about resisting housing growth.
“This is not about objecting to housing. The Blue Mountains has a housing target and we are meeting it,” he said.
“This is about placing hundreds of people in a bushfire-prone area with limited evacuation routes and overriding long-standing local planning controls that have protected our unique landscape for decades.”
Council has also raised concerns about the adequacy of community consultation undertaken by the applicant.
“We have been told letters were distributed within one to two kilometres of the site and that there was little to no response. Knowing the Blue Mountains community as I do, I find that extremely difficult to believe,” the Mayor said.
“This process is planning behind closed doors. The consultation is tokenistic at best and continues to keep the community in the dark about the form and potential impacts of this development.
“Under the State process, Council is not permitted to publicly share the draft plans. The concept image available does not fully capture the likely impact. I can assure the community the real impact will be greater.”
Once the applicant lodges final documentation with the NSW Department of Planning, a State-run public exhibition will occur for 14 days. Council will not be notified in advance of the exhibition period.
Mayor Greenhill is urging the community to be prepared.
“When this proposal goes on exhibition, our community will have only 14 days to respond,” he said.
“We must be ready to make submissions and defend the planning controls that have safeguarded our World Heritage City for generations.
“This proposal poses a real risk to this part of Katoomba and to the integrity of the local planning framework our community has supported for decades.”
