Media Release from BVSRRA - Re: Proposed Hotel Australasia Development in Eden In response to a strong community-based campaign, Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) unanimously resolved at its Ordinary Meeting on February 12th, 2014, to reject the development application made by AAPI, which proposed the demolition of the historic Hotel Australasia, located in Imlay Street, the main street of Eden, to make way for a supermarket. In support of its decision, BVSC cited four (4) strong reasons, which were: a. The proposed development would be contrary to clause 23(2)(b) of the Bega Valley Local Environment Plan 2002 as demolition of the existing building would result in a significant change to the existing and historic character of the Eden urban area. b. The proposed development would be contrary to clause 65(1)(a)(vi) and clause 28 (2(f) of the Bega Valley Local Environmental Plan 2002 and the provisions of councils adopted development control plan 40-Port of Eden Town Centre May 2007 as it involves the demolition of the existing building which has a significant historical value within the street scape and to the greater Port of Eden. c. The proposed development would be contrary to the requirements of council’s adopted development control plan No 7- Off street parking July 2007 in that insufficient onsite parking is to be provided to cater for the requirements of the development. d. That the impact of the proposed development will be detrimental to the viability of other businesses in the locality and the retail centre. In addition, then Mayor, Clr Bill Taylor, complimented the Eden community, stating that he was ‘encouraged to see the community so involved in the wellbeing of their town’. How ironic then that at another Ordinary Meeting, some 6 months later on July 30th, 2014 - the very same day that it voted to endorse the Central Business District Masterplan for Eden - BVSC performed a stunning volte face by resolving to reverse its original decision & support the AAPI development application, citing a risk to ratepayers of exposure to significant costs, including legal costs, if it continued to oppose the development. Whilst the BVSRRA can’t fault BVSC’s stated desire to protect the financial interests of residents/ratepayers, such concerns have clearly not prevented Council from pursuing other contentious & financially risky decisions in the past, such as those involving Merimbula Airport, Littleton Gardens & the Tura Beach Tavern. The BVSRRA would contend that Council’s original reasons for refusing the AAPI development application are as valid today as they’ve always been & certainly community opposition to the development, in particular should it involve demolition of the building, is just as strong. Regrettably, the only thing that appears to have changed is the willingness of BVSC to stand-up for itself & the interests of the Eden community. Following the decision by BVSC in July, the developer has attempted to work with the community in an effort to find a way to retain & conserve the historical façade of the building as part of the development. That said, the Eden community has been enormously disappointed by the failure of BVSC to try & assist in finding a solution that would meet the needs of all stakeholders; all the more so given the fact that the compelling reasons originally cited by Council in support of protecting the building remain unchanged. Then, in what some might see as a further slap in the face to the Eden community, last week BVSC announced a highly contentious decision to use $220,000 of ratepayers’ funds to purchase a property in Chandos Street, Eden, allegedly to ‘improve’ access to the public car park adjacent to the Hotel Australasia, but which, in the eyes of many in the community, will also significantly benefit the commercial interests of the developer, in particular as the current vehicle access onto the Hotel Australasia site will disappear as a result of the development. In all the circumstances, the BVSRRA does not envy the challenge confronting new Mayor, Michael Britten, in trying to explain to an increasingly disenchanted community how it is that BVSC has so badly managed the Hotel Australasia issue, although his task would certainly be made a lot easier if he demonstrated genuine leadership & brokered a compromise solution that would meet the needs of the developer on the one hand, whilst satisfying the expectations of residents/ratepayers by protecting & conserving a historic icon in the Eden community on the other. John Richardson Secretary Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 23:20:23 +0000
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