Ourimbah Region Residents Association Inc Newsletter August 2015

Welcome to the first edition of ORRA’s newsletter

JRPP Again Defers Decision on the Proposed Boarding House in Ourimbah

As widely reported in the media, the Joint Regional Planning Panel convened for the second time on 16 July 2015 to determine whether approval should be given to the 101 room Boarding House behind the shops in Glen Road Ourimbah. Thank you to the 53 residents from Ourimbah who attended the hearing to support the 11 speakers who raised serious objections to the development. Based on these submissions and the panel members own concerns, the JRPP again deferred making a decision giving the developer a deadline of 17 August 2015 in which to respond to seven specific matters listed in their determination.

Full details of the Planning Panel’s latest decision are documented on the Panel’s website which can be viewed at the following address: www.jrpp.nsw.gov.au ; then select Development and Planning Register from the top menu and then in the subsequent search string box towards the bottom of the screen enter ‘2014HCC001’.

Essentially, all four panel members voiced concerns about the inconsistencies with the submitted plans together with the lack of details as to floor levels, the proposed car park structure, stormwater drainage design and water management details. The panel has also sought from the developer a revised landscape plan together with an updated arborist report. In addition, the panel had serious concerns with the proposed Plan of Management.

The Chairperson of the Stop Glen Road Development Action Group, Greg McGill expressed frustration that the panel did not reject the development outright given that all panel members expressed doubts about this development passing the so called character test.

He further stated that the Stop Glen Road Development Action Group, the Ourimbah Region Residents Association (ORRA), the Wyong Shire Rate Payers Association and other residents of Ourimbah had all identified major issues, inconsistencies and inaccuracies with this DA and the questions must be asked:

  • Why have all Councillor’s except Councillor Bob Graham declared a conflict of interest with the developer or in Councillor Troy’s case he has relatives in Ourimbah?
  • Why Ourimbah residents have not received any support from Wyong Shire Councillors objecting to this development when Councillors are supposedly elected to represent rate payers?
  • Why has Wyong Council Planning Staff again recommended approval of this development when there are all these inaccuracies, inconsistencies and inadequate documentation and Plan of Management submitted by the developer?

Irrespective of the result of this Development Application, calls by State Member for Wyong David Harris MP for a judicial inquiry into Wyong Council’s operations appear to be well founded based on the experience of Ourimbah residents over the past 18 months.

What Happens Next?

The developer has until 17 August to submit to Wyong Council all the additional information sought by the JRPP. After this has been analysed by Council’s Development and Planning staff, a further JRPP determination meeting will be convened to make a final decision on whether this development is approved or rejected. This determination meeting is open to the general public and residents who have made written submissions previously will be notified by the JRPP and given the opportunity to register to speak at the meeting so please come along and support our speakers.

Please turnover for the latest information on the Ourimbah Masterplan and ORRA’s activities in 2015.

Current Status of the Ourimbah Masterplan

A number of Ourimbah residents, business owners, University of Newcastle management, government agencies and ORRA representatives have been part of a ‘stakeholders group’ working with Wyong Council’s consultants to put forward ideas and suggestions for incorporation into the proposed Masterplan for Ourimbah for the next 20 years. A draft of this plan has now been released by the consultants and is currently being reviewed by Wyong Councillors and council staff prior to being released to the public for comment at the end of August 2015. Pending release of this draft plan to the public by Wyong Council it is not possible to provide specific details of what is proposed. One component of this draft plan however, proposes extending Jaques Street from Glen Rd through to King Street to provide for more ground floor retail space with provision for residential space on top. This proposal appears to have overlooked the fact that if approved the Boarding House will take up most of one side of the planned road extension not to mention the lack of parking.

This problem could be overcome if Wyong Council and the Boarding House developer were to enter into a land swap whereby the Boarding House could be built on Council owned land adjacent to the University (corner of Brush Road and Shirley Streets Ourimbah) in lieu of Glen Road thereby making land available for more retail space and parking between Glen Rd and King Street as proposed in the draft Masterplan. This suggestion was raised at the recent JRPP hearing but could not be considered as part of the approval process as the Masterplan is still only a draft! Surely this suggestion is a win for everyone concerned and should be pursued by Council as a matter of urgency if they are serious about Ourimbah’s future.

Do you know about the Ourimbah Region Residents Association Inc.?

Would you like to keep up-to-date with what is planned or happening in Ourimbah and have a say, then please see details below of how to join and when and where meetings are held?

Association Name / Ourimbah Region Residents Association Inc (ORRA)
Meeting Dates / The first Wednesday in every month, for the remainder of 2015 meetings will be held on - 2 Sept, 7 Oct, 4 Nov and 2 Dec (this meeting will include a Christmas get-together – BYO plate/drink)
Meeting Location and Time / Meetings are held in the Community Hall, Bill Sohier Park Ourimbah at 7:30pm and finish by 9pm (December meeting to commence at 7pm)
Guest Speakers
Proposed /
  • September – Update on Proposed Boarding House Development.
  • October- Councillor Lisa Matthews –Gosford /Wyong Council amalgamation.
  • November-Mayor Doug Eaton.
  • December- State Member for The Entrance David Mehan (to be confirmed).

Association Website
Mail address
and Email Address / ourimbahregionresidentsassociation.com
PO Box 71 Ourimbah 2258

Association Officeholders / Chairperson/ Di Willard 4362 9174 or 0408 414 552
Vice Chair Adam Rodgers 0418 649 277 Secretary Jeff Jones 0439 437 767
Treasurer Greg McGill 4362 1728 or 0404 115 304
Membership and Donations / Membership is only $1, and can be arranged by contacting any of the abovementioned Officeholders or by attending one of our meetings.