Kiama council has received a Planning Proposal for the rezoning of a block at Golden Valley Road, Jamberoo from RU2 Rural Landscape to R2 Low Density Residential, and the amendment of the minimum lot size from 40 hectares to 800 square metres.

At the October ordinary meeting, council staff had recommended that council endorse the Planning Proposal to proceed to the Department of Planning and Environment for a Gateway Determination; and that on receipt of the Gateway Determination, proceed with recommendations including requesting any further studies and public exhibition.

The site is located on Golden Valley Road, Jamberoo, about 100 metres south of the intersection of Golden Valley Road and Allowrie Street.

The site is approximately 4.7 hectares with its entire western boundary fronting Golden Valley Road.

The site is vacant and has historically been used for agricultural purposes.

“The site was included as suitable following public notification and council’s receipt and consideration of submissions to the Urban Strategy,” council’s report said. 

“The site was identified in the strategy as assisting in providing an appropriately defined and accessible southern boundary to Jamberoo Village.”

The proposal seeks amendments to the Kiama Local Environmental Plan 2011 to ensure that the site is consistent with the existing residential land within Jamberoo Village. 

According to council’s report, the site would potentially yield approximately 47 dwellings. 

At the meeting, it was resolved that council defer consideration of the Gateway Proposal for one month to allow for community input. 

The site has been noted for future development within the Kiama Urban Strategy. 

In the meantime, the owner could have potentially applied to the Department to begin the Gateway process, but as of last week reportedly hadn’t lodged such an application. 

If the PP is accepted then it must go through the development application process. 

This means council would make the final determination. 

Jamberoo resident Rob McKinnon spoke against the proposal at council’s October public access.

“I don’t favour this site for residential development at all,” he said.

“It’s a kilometre from the CBD of Jamberoo… It’s just too far away. It won’t boost any employment in Jamberoo.

“Just ask the people what they think. Do they really want to see the sprawl of Jamberoo come towards Kiama?”

Kiama Mayor Mark Honey, a Jamberoo dairy farmer said the “feeling that I get from Jamberoo residents, which probably reflect my own is (they’d) prefer not to have that ten-acre site developed at this stage”.

“It’s sort of the gateway of Jamberoo and certainly (would) impact on the visual appearance of the town as you come into the town,” he said.

“There’s still a lot of consultation to go on, so I’m sure that the community will reflect during that period their attitudes towards it. 

“I’m yet to hear one positive reaction to it.

“But the process has to be gone through… If the Planning Proposal is accepted, then there’s a community consultation period then.

“What we’ve done (at the October meeting) is given the town an extra opportunity to give their reactions… They’re getting an opportunity that most Planning Proposals don’t offer.”

Cr Honey expected the matter would likely return to council at its November meeting. 

Residents will also host a public meeting on the issue on Tuesday, November 8 at 7.45pm at Jamberoo School of Arts.