Neighbourhood Forum 4 saves the views!
Posted by reformwcc on November 8, 2009
NF4 media release
Concerted final submissions from Neighbourhood Forum #4 [NF4] members swayed a majority of an independent planning panel to reject an overdevelopment of a key site in Corrimal. The rejected plan would have overwhelmed the village character and destroyed iconic views of the escarpment from the centre of Corrimal.
NF4 on behalf of the residents of Corrimal and northern suburbs welcomes the decision by the Independent Hearing Advisory Panel [IHAP] to defer the ‘monolithic’ retail development by VALAD in the Corrimal town centre.
The majority report said the site “offers an unexpected opportunity for a ‘state of the art’ retail complex which responds to contemporary design ideals related to sustainability, village character and community aspirations”. The deferral is to allow the developer to “submit amended plans to address these concerns and to respond to the Corrimal Revitalisation Strategy”.
Neighbourhood Forum 4 Convenor, Val Hussain expresses her appreciation to the Corrimal and surrounding suburbs community for their strong and considered support.
She said; “The community recognises the need for modern retail development that is consistent with sustainability and the iconic village green town centre that will see Corrimal uniquely placed as an attraction for shoppers, employment, entertainment, and tourists. We endorse IHAP’s comment on this point in particular.
We are pleased to read that IHAP has requested further traffic modelling. Requests from the community for a traffic master plan have been on the table for a number of years. Serious concerns for pedestrian safety and avoiding traffic gridlock will now be alleviated by this official requirement for traffic modelling.”
NF4 is encouraged that IHAP has identified the need for this VALAD development to be integrated into the Corrimal Town Centre Revitalisation Strategy. The Corrimal community had also made this same request to Council some eighteen months ago, but to no avail.
The Convenor went on to say “this IHAP decision identifies the urgent need for developers and council to engage the community interactively at an early stage of any development. Such participation will ensure profitable, compatible, creative and sustainable outcomes.
We are particularly pleased and excited that IHAP recognised the iconic escarpment views as an integral part of the Corrimal town centre.”
“NF4 calls on Council to form a working group of planners, residents, retailers, developers, and other stakeholders to advance the Town Centre Revitalisation Strategy, oversee a traffic master plan, and see established a successful iconic green village that is attractive and innovative in Wollongong.” Ms. Hussain said.
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