IMAGINE being told your home of more than 10 years, and in other cases longer, was going to be resumed and you would be forced to move?
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That’s the situation facing four households in Cambewarra Road, Bomaderry adjacent to the high school, Artie Smith Oval and the Bomaderry Sporting Complex.
In the past week the home owners have been told by Shoalhaven City Council their homes would be making way for a regional sporting and community precinct in the area.
Council has plans to establish a $70 million precinct as part of the Bomaderry Master Plan to be released at the next full council meeting on May 24.
The problem for the homeowners, such as Rod and Cathryn Evans, is four houses on the northern side of Cambewarra Road will be resumed and demolished.
It is understood the Bomaderry Pool and Nowra Croquet Lawns will also make way for the proposal.
The Evans have lived in what they describe as “their own little oasis” for 11 years.
They say it is like a scene out of the Australian movie The Castle, except it’s not Darryl Kerrigan slated to lose his family home this time, it’s them.
“We have spent a fortune doing up the inside of our home,” Mr Evans said.
“It is only a little place but it suits us fine and we have made it into our home.
“We have done lots of renovations inside - repainted everything, done floors, carpeted.”
“Sure it may benefit thousands of people but they aren’t being pushed out of their home.”
- Rod Evans
“We had plans to do up the bathroom, we’d even purchased the spa bath - those plans are all on hold now,” Mrs Evans said.
Admitting they had heard “Chinese whispers” about a possible proposal five years down the track, the couple said the first the residents officially heard of the move was when they received a phone call from a council staff member last week to set up a meeting the following day.
“I was grateful at least they [council] came and spoke to us first before making it public,” Mr Evans said.
“But it doesn’t make it any easier,” Mrs Evans said.
The couple say they have seen plans council has to establish the precinct which would include a community centre/hub with doctors’ facilities, physio, chemist and other health services.
Another resident said they had heard a rehab pool was also part of the plans.
The precinct will be linked to the proposed redevelopment of the Shoalhaven Basketball Stadium and Artie Smith Oval, which have been on the drawing board for many years.
It was originally believed the new facilities would link with the pool, croquet, cricket and rugby league complexes across the road, making a sporting precinct or hub.
“Plans we saw even had a overhead bridge over Cambewarra Road linking both areas,” Mrs Evans said.
“On the plans our four homes are gone and big buildings in their place.”
They say they have been told the pool, croquet and tennis courts will also be removed.
“It’s tough to hear,” Mr Evans said. “This is our home.”
It is understood the work would be carried out in five stages, but the removal of the homes was stage one of works.
The Evans’ plight is even more difficult, with Rod, a structural welder, currently out of work waiting for a knee replacement later this month.
“I’ll have a another six months of recovery,” he said.
“No one will give us a loan to buy a new place when I’m not working.
“We love this area. It is beautiful.
“This is our own little oasis - it feels like we are in the middle of nowhere
“There is no way we could afford something as idyllic anywhere else. We are not built out. We have good neighbours and the pool at the back.
“A lot of the residents here have downsized to their small cosy homes.
“We love it. All we hear is the laughter from kids having a good time at the pool. And at night when the pool filters run it’s like having a creek in your backyard.”
The couple say they could stress about the proposal but “what good would it do?”
“We have been told it [the plans] could be three or five years, who knows,” Mrs Evans said.
“We will deal with it when it comes.”
Although nothing has been confirmed the couple believe council will offer market value for their land and home.
“Council has offered help in our relocation with removalists etc,” Mr Evans said.
“Apparently for it to go ahead the area has to be rezoned. If that is the case and council gets more money for the land, which I’m sure they will, we should also be entitled to some of that extra money.”
They do have the chance to object when the plan goes on public display, with Mrs Evans saying they will be voicing their opposition.
“We were told it’s a land acquisition and if it is for the benefit of the public we really have no choice,” Mrs Evans said.
“We have also been told they [council] could build around us, but where would the serenity be?” Mr Evans said.
“Sure it may benefit thousands of people but they aren’t being pushed out of their home.”
“We don’t know if this proposal will even come off,” Mrs Evans said.
“Where will council get the $70 million we have been told it is worth from?
“And will they spend $70 million in Bomaderry - we’ll believe it when we see it.
“But in the meantime we have this hanging over our heads.”
Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash said a proposed master plan had been developed for Bomaderry and was due to be released at the next full council meeting on Tuesday, May 24.
“I haven’t seen it [the master plan] yet. It’s not up on line but once it is presented to council it will go on exhibition.
“Simply, it is a master plan for the area. I don’t believe the croquet courts are included. As I said I haven’t see the plan.”
Cr Gash said no decision had been made on the pool’s future.