Ourimbah boarding house rejected again

The Burns Rd view of the amended building façade

Central Coast Local Planning Panel has refused a development application for a boarding house at 17 Burns Rd, Ourimbah.

The Panel’s unanimous vote against the proposal confirmed a previous refusal by Central Coast Council in April.

When Council refused the application (993/2019), Urbanesque Planning Pty Ltd, on behalf of owner Pinchgut Pty Ltd, requested a review, and subsequently, an amended application went on public exhibition.

The original application was for an 18-room boarding house across two buildings accommodating 36 lodgers and an on-site manager’s residence.

An amended proposal for a 15-room boarding house in two buildings for 30 lodgers and on-site manager was considered by the Local Planning Panel on September 3, because of the number of objections to the boarding house.

The Panel upheld Council’s original refusal as the proposal was not consistent with objectives of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the R2 low-density residential zone of Wyong Local Environment Plan 2013, and nor the State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing).

The Panel accepted Council’s recommendation for refusal as set out in the Notice of Determination that the proposal was not an orderly or economic use of the land, impeded an electricity easement with right of carriageway, did not enhance the residential amenity and character of the surrounding area and did not address impacts on neighbouring properties, the streetscape or the intended residents of the boarding house.

Other reasons included inadequate provision of essential services including vehicle access and storm water, and details of seven other different requirements not met.

The Panel found that the Operational Plan of Management was inadequate and a Social Impact Assessment with the application did not include community consultation.

Sue Murray