Options for a second access point to the Kiama estate known as Cedar Grove II will be explored.

Kiama council last year voted to approve the subdivision on the ridge above the existing Cedar Grove.

This included a single access point though Banksia Drive, which links to the roundabout on Jamberoo Road.

At the time, residents of the existing estate argued the proposal would create hazardous traffic conditions through narrow streets, an issue they claimed would be exacerbated in times of emergency. 

At Kiama council’s October 18 meeting, councillor Warren Steel requested a report on the possible rezoning to residential land of Cuba Street (off Merrick Street to Lilly Pilly Way), with the possibility of creating a second access from the Cedar Grove Estate.

According to a report to council’s November meeting, to rezone the land from RU2 Rural Landscape to a residential zone would require the preparation of a planning proposal.

“The land in question is highly constrained and is not included in the Kiama Urban Strategy 2011,” council’s report said. 

“The strategy has recognised a defined western edge to the Kiama urban area and the allotments in question are located to the west of this edge, thus outside the defined urban area.

“Any potential rezoning of these properties would be unlikely to be supported by council staff as it would be inconsistent with council’s adopted policy.”

According to the report, council’s engineering department previously looked into the merits of using this land to provide a second access to Cedar Grove and advised against it for several reasons.

These included that the deviation of westbound traffic in Jamberoo Road is too severe; and that there is an existing water quality/stormwater detention basin located near Jamberoo Road that services the existing subdivision.

“The relocation of this basin may require substantial modification to the existing road drainage system,” council’s report said. 

A proposal raised at council’s November public access meeting is that in exchange for the neighbouring section of land being zoned residential and the developer gaining rights for a 20-30 lot sub-division, the proponent would conduct the necessary works to provide an alternate entry into Cedar Grove II at no expense to council. 

At the November council meeting, the majority of councillors resolved that council officers investigate the proposal, and any other alternative options for a second access to Cedar Grove II, and report back to council.

This investigation is expected to include examining potential emergency access routes.

At the November meeting, mayor Mark Honey noted that if council were to proceed with this matter, the process would entail a planning proposal, a rezoning and then a development application being lodged, “which would take a period of a number of years before that was actually in a development stage, if that were to happen”.