Huskisson:First Step in destroying urban design and village character.

Huskisson is a pretty special part of the South Coast.

Its known as the gateway to Jervis Bay, home of Dolphin Cruise boats, crystal clear waters and a marine park. Alongside it of course is the fantastic Booderee National park which by itself gets 1/2 million vistors per year.

For a council that has declared a desire to make our tourism industry its number one priority you would think that it would recognise what it is that makes the place special- in fact they paid a consultant to re-write their Tourism Master plan which did just that-identify our assets that are worth nurturing.

The tourism master plan did identify that the area was lacking in certain types of tourist development which included apartment style living for holiday makers. The Plan also identified that fostering our low key, laid back urban look was also part of the deal.

So planning for new development in Huskisson then becomes a priority-a priority that sympathises with the existing built environment and protecting view corridors through to the beach/water/vegetated foreshore. This has been successfully managed in other coastal locations that havent been hell bent on overdevelopment. For those places that went all out to attract big development are less desireable holiday locations, ( Shoalhaven by the way is the second best holiday destination in the State after Syndey!)

Fegen Street Huskisson has been a focal point lately for Huskisson as it has a draft Development Control Plan on exhibition, that up untill Wednesday aimed to preserve a sensitive urban design approach. The plan has taken four years of consultation with quite a lot of movement from the basically urban community that surrounds the precinct.

Meanwhile since the plan was first drafted a global financial crisis intervened and of course has effected real estate prices and the willingness of financial institutions to lend money for more speculative projects.

With these conditions in mind a prospective developer for Fegen Street has fought the community tooth and nail to try and acheive a higher density of development for his site's on Fegen Street. One of his applications was outright refused by the joint regional planning panel as it just didnt suit the urban nature of the area.

Current Mayor and Federal Member Joanna Gash turned up to a community onsite meeting and was faced with a mob of concerned citizens who put up balloons oniste to show just how four storey buildings would affect them. Mrs Gash at the time stated that she supported the community.

However at Wednesdays Development Committee with barely a word said in debate and after a passionate plea from community members Mrs Gash moved a motion that would see the development control plan for the Fegen Street Precinct altered to allow a fourth storey. It may be a trimmed down 4th storey in that it is only allowed to be half the size of the first floor but it is still a 4th storey.

Of course the community are disappointed, and the developer is happy that the gates are opened to allow something that doesnt fit with the village feel of Huskisson but lifts his proft margin from 17% to 35% which in his words is now a viable project.

I didnt get to support the community at committee level as I was of at another Council endorsed activity and thought it was safe to remain at the Conference and AGM ( I was Shoalhavens voting delegate) as I could debate the issue on the floor of Council- but with the new delegated powers of committee that is not to be. so we have a major policy decision made in the quite corner of a committee withour being referred to a full Council ( SHAME SHOALHAVEN SHAME).

Thanks however to Clrs McCruddin and Guile who also believe in democracy and have supported a recission motion so that this major policy issue can be reported to full Council. It might not be successfull  though as it has to go first to development and get the support of the voting Majority of TEAM GASH.

Oh and special thanks to Clr Anstiss who must have read the report, looked at the back history and decided to support the community who elected her.