Extra time for developers at Kangaroo Bay
THE proponents of a multimillion-dollar development at Kangaroo Bay are expected to be granted an extension to lodge a development application so further consultation can be done.
A report to tonight’s Clarence City Council meeting has recommended council authorise the general manager to write to Hunter Developments to extend the preferred development agreement until March 30 next year.
The report said a threemonth extension of time will allow “broader and more extensive community consultation” to be done with the community.
It also said the extra time would factor in the Christmas and New Year period, and would allow the developers to incorporate possible changes into the project’s design.
Last year, the council granted Hunter Developments preferred developer status for the project at the boulevard site.
It is the second phase of the development at Kangaroo Bay, with that developer also behind the $50 million Kangaroo Bay Hotel at the wharf side of the precinct.
Alderman Luke Edmunds welcomed the extra consultation that will be made possible through the extension.
“All residents want is to be kept in the loop and have their voices heard,’’ he said.
“Proper consultation with residents should give developers confidence that their projects will have community support.”
The developers briefed Clarence City Council aldermen in October on their plans for the site. The second stage of the development includes a multimillion-dollar mixed residential and retail precinct.
Alderman Beth Warren recently said a mixed trading and accommodation precinct would likely have strong support for the community.
But she expressed concerns that the concept design was too high for the area.
Co-director of Hunter Developments, Ganche Chua, said last month the consultation process was in its infancy.
“We’re not going to lodge a DA until we’re satisfied we’ve done everything we can to address the feedback,’’ he said.
“Originally we intended to lodge by early next year, but we’re just going to play it by ear — there’s a lot of feedback to go through and we’ll see what amendments we can make.”