Request to review refusal of Blue Bay dual residence

Central Coast Council has been asked to review its refusal to build a beachside dual residence at Blue Bay mostly because of coastal management concerns.

The owner wants to demolish the existing structures at 114 Ocean Pde and invest $1.8M to build two new residences which will be two-storey at street level and three levels at the beach side of the sloping 817sqm site.

Each of the three-bedrooms residences will have a plunge pool on the basement garden level.

The DA (1440/2023) says that overall the proposal meets planning controls with the exception of minor setback variations.

However, Council refused the proposal because it wasn’t satisfied that the development “was not likely to cause increased risk on coastal environmental values and natural processes”.

Council’s assessment report says although the proposal is similar in size to surrounding properties “the intensification of (this) development is not supported in the coastal zone and (Council) is not satisfied that there will be no adverse impact”.

The report raised concerns about unsatisfactory impact on the natural environment and on adjoining properties because of the “excessive cut” (excavation) required to accommodate the development.

Other grounds for refusal of the dual occupancy include matters such as floor space ratio, fencing, driveway width, appropriate rear landscaping, and that the site is not suitable for the bulk and scale of the design and layout of the proposal.

Sue Murray