The Proposed Seniors Living Subdivision in Kurrajong
Channel: Councillor Nathan Zamprogno
Date: 2023-02-14

At Council's meeting last night a nineteen lot subdivision in Vincents Road Kurrajong was passed. 

A D.A for a 'Seniors Living Development' lodged in 2021 had previously been refused by Council. Then it became the result of litigation before the Land and Environment Court in 2021. The Court approved the development, but did not accept an argument that the site should be subdivided, meaning the dwellings being built could be owner-occupied rather than operated under Community Title as a unified facility.

Council was presented with an unsolicited proposal to amend our planning codes in an ad-hoc way to permit the subdivision. Four Councillors recused themselves with professed conflicts of interest, including the Mayor. I cannot recall so many Councillors leaving the chamber on a single issue in my time on Council.
The proponent's representative who addressed the meeting stated she had never heard of the company allegedly behind the development.

I felt the process was rushed. I moved that the matter be deferred so Councillors could hear from concerned residents and staff at a briefing. This was voted down.

I was concerned that the central question, which was which model - Community Title or Owner-occupied represented the best outcome for the community, was left largely unexamined.

I want to place my remarks on this issue on the public record.
For the sake of fairness, the full debate is available at Hawkesbury Council's YouTube channel.