The issue was again raised at the November Kiama council meeting.

Councillors considered a development application for 132 Manning Street, Kiama which sought consent for the demolition of existing structures and construction of four dwellings with strata title subdivision.

Council’s report recommended refusal due to unacceptable overshadowing impacts.

Council staff also noted that the proposed development is not in keeping with the desired future character of the area, nor streetscape presentation.

However, an agreement was reportedly made between the developer and owners of a neighbouring property regarding minimising shadowing impacts. 

At the meeting, Cr Andrew Sloan referenced several unit blocks that had been built under delegated authority in recent times throughout the municipality, including two in Manning Street near Surf Beach.

“When we saw those going up, the previous council realised there was a serious problem with the design of these medium density blocks,” he said.

“(So) we started calling them up. 

“What we’re looking at here is an apartment that does look better from the street… But it is in fact very similar to the two we’ve called up and rejected recently.

“Not as ugly as the two here at Surf Beach, but it is similar design; two-and-a-half storeys, sideways facing primarily, the drive down one side and the balcony’s hanging over half of the driveway.

“This is very much similar to the sort of things we’ve been trying to stop, and we have changed the rules (recently in the council’s Development Control Plan) so that they would stop.”

The DA was submitted before the new DCP being adopted. 

Councillors resolved to defer consideration of the DA to review the modification documents provided.