Dreams of developing the controversial Akuna Street site are virtually over.
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Developer Nicolas Daoud and Co Pty Ltd has until Saturday to submit amended plans for the site, but it appears that deadline will not be met.
In a confidential session on Wednesday, Kiama Council made a unanimous decision to rescind its May 15 resolution, which is believed to have given the developer further time to submit the amended plans.
Kiama resident Dave Evans had spoken against the proposal in front of a Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP).
“I’m very happy with the decision and glad council decided to protect its integrity,” he said.
“The big problem was, if they allowed another DA to be submitted and considered a non compliant DA it would have sent the wrong message to other developers.
“They’ve decided to draw a line in the sand and keep Kiama’s long term tourism potential.
“I’m excited council might decide to develop the site themselves.”
Mr Evans was most opposed to the development due to the height of the building, the floor space ratio, lack of light, lack of public community space and the reduced size of the ALDI store.
“The developer decided he would try and get away with whatever he wanted – what was asked of them was reasonable,” Mr Evans said.
“I’m proud of our council for standing up and saying “you’re not going to get away with it”.
Kiama Council approved the sale of former printing works and car park sites in Shoalhaven Street and former Mitre 10 store in Terralong Street in August 2016 to Nicolas Daoud and Co Pty Ltd for $8.5 million.
At the time, the Kiama Independent reported the development would “reinvigorate economic activity in Kiama”.
Property developer Mr Daoud was also the developer behind Bathers and several high-profile projects in Wollongong, such as the Crown Wollongong development.
As part of the sale agreement the developer had to submit plans within six months and receive approval within 12 months.
The agreement also included that two three-month extensions could be sought if delays occurred in the JRPP assessment process, but a penalty fee had to be paid to council for each such extension.