Mod 10 - Modified Layout & Density

Not happy regarding increased height of buildings. Will be selling land as a reault. Also not happy with terrible discount chemist signage and large Coles signs. Not necessary and ugly commercial logos in what was a much nicer area prior.

I want more green areas

I have owned property within Casuarina for almost 10 years and within this time we have seen the final pieces of the master plan be developed. It is important for the overall growth in the community for the final piece of the town centre to be completed in accordance with the current plan. Casuarina over the last few years has started to become a community and this can only continue with the appropriate amount of density of living accommodation which has been well thought through in this master plan.

Hi there,

I would like to register interest in the Clarence property development proposed at Casuarina.

I have lived in Casuarina since 2011 and I have seen the growth occur in this area. This development proposed would assist us to continue to allow more families to be able to purchase land and to enjoy the additional retail and other amenities proposed for the development.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit my proposal.

I have been an owner/resident in Casuarina since 2011 and have seen the increase in infrastructure in the area ie Coles Shopping Centre, new land releases etc.
We will be very pleased to see the addition of our new Casuarina Town Centre to add more options for restaurants, cafes, shops and the new land release.

I fully support this to go ahead.

I fully support this going ahead.

My wife & I are long term residents of Casuarina. In fact we were the very first to build our house done there (then 3 Chatfield Crt ).

I believe that the further development of the Town centre is well over due & this plan is very suitable for the area.

I have been a resident in Casuarina since 2004 and I fully support the latest Town Centre Master Plan. I have studied every Master Plan ever tabled for the Town Centre and believe that the latest modification is by far the best. I believe that the mix of retail and residential is appropriate. The density / height levels have an appropriate mix. I commend the modification that provides more free-hold small lot sites recognizing that this is offset by the increased storey level to 4 storeys on three sites. I also believe that there is a very sensible proportion of recreational space and car parking. The sooner the Master Plan is approved and under construction the better as the area desperately needs it. We've been waiting for over ten years!

This development is desperately needed. I am sick of people complaining about this and prior submissions because of their personal agendas.

It will add much needed facilities to us residents and employment for the community.

Fully support an Australian backed development - we have been waiting for years and as long as it meets DA approval , I would be extremely disappointed if this doesn't go ahead.

We wish to lodge our support for the proposed amendment to the Casuarina Town Centre. We have reviewed the response to submissions and believe Clarence Property has listened to the community and the development will be an asset to the Casuarina area. Some key points we wish to highlight our support are outlined below.

1. The development provides a significant reduction to the density of the Town Centre. The proposal better responds to the coastal village area which Casuarina has developed into. The last thing we want is residential flats and a tourist hotel throughout the town centre. Clarence Property is proposing a good mix of single dwellings and mixed use shop-top housing which will create the right density for Casuarina.
2. The level of open space is exactly on par with the original application. Furthermore, with the reduction in density and therefore resident population, the level of open space combined with the proximity to sporting fields and the beach is considered reasonable.
3. The issue of building height is in our view not an issue. The fact is the proposal does not seek approval for buildings. The land is afforded a13.6m building height which was set by Tweed Shire Council as being the building height deemed appropriate for the area. We note the 13.6m height is also available at Salt, Cotton Beach and Cabarita, hence it is not just Casuarina Town Centre which is afforded this height limit. Accordingly, once the subdivision is built we recognise the development of the land will be subject to separate approvals through Tweed Shire Council. Objections complaining about 4 storey buildings is just misleading as no buildings will be approved under this modification.
4. The proposed subdivision design and lot sizes are considered to be reasonable as the creation of smaller lots close to a town centre is appropriate and are definitely in character to existing development.
5. The level of public car parking is increased above that provided in the original approval.
6. The open space civic park is well designed with play equipment and public amenities which will be an asset to the subdivision.
7. The re-instatement of the 20m northern buffer is great recognition that Clarence Property has listened to the community and responded to their concerns.
8. Grand Parade is designed to be greater than 30m wide providing expansive footpaths which will be fantastic for alfresco dining and presents an open active public space.
9. We need the Town centre finished. It is the last piece of land to be developed. It will bring housing, employment and improved access to services for existing and future residents. Lets stop wasting time and let the project commence.

I fully support this proposal as it is the right mix.

It is about time we put differences aside and promote Casuarina as a great place to live and which enables responsible development.

After viewing the plans and documents provided I support the following that there are 5 fundamental flaws:

1. No building east of Casuarina Way should be greater than 11 metres in height from ground level. This is presently the case and I feel the current 3 storey height level is a comfortable limit due to its impact upon the built and natural form of the location and propensity to cast shadows. The plans show 3 buildings with building heights of 4 storeys, being greater than 11 metres in height. This increase in permitted height is not in keeping with the character of the area as those buildings will be imposing upon the amenity and views of the surrounding properties and public spaces.

The existing building adjacent (to the north) of the sites in question is the Santai Resort. This 3 storey building is on an elevated part of the landscape and should represent the highest point in the estate. Buildings on the proposed sites to the south of Santai should taper down to follow the ground level. Maintaining a height consistent with the Santai building for that distance will create a large wall-like effect of an imposing scale and will ruin the built form skyline in that location.

2. The sites immediately east of Casuarina way presently showing a 4 storey height have an unreasonable bulky scale. The building footprints appear massive and dominate the site. The buildings drawn in the plans, whilst concept in nature, are likely to be a most probable end product. Thus the current scale lends itself to a utilitarian and Stalinist built form shown in the drawings. These sites need to have the bulk and scale reduced. Because of their prominent position on the landscape any approvals should be conditioned to require those buildings to have a very high standard of architectural merit and urban design: particularly in facade treatments and softening by appropriate landscaping.

3. The width of the environmental buffer in the present swale area is insufficient. The current plan to fill the swale and pipe the water is commendable however the plan to insert a road within that 20m buffer provides a far greater impact upon surrounding residents than the proposed 8 metre buffer will adequately absorb. The buffer should be at least doubled in width.

4. The plans do not show any location for the surf lifesaving facilities, nor any access to the beach for lifesaving services. Surf lifesaving services and their adjunct facilities are vital for this beach due to the number of beach users and the currents and rips along this stretch. Only a few days ago at a nearby beach there was one man drowned and others left in a critical state in hospital after swimming at an unpatrolled beach. I think this sadly highlights the very real need for lifesaving services and well located sufficiently sized facilities with good direct access to the beach in this location. This facility should make it as easy and safe as possible for lifesaving services to be carried out on this beach.

5. Insufficient green space and parks
The plans don't seem to show an adequate level of parks, buffers and general public open space. I think this needs to be increased.

General comments
I am aware that other parts of the estate are not being adequately maintained by the council due to a lack of available funds. For example, the lights along the beachside pathway/cycleway are not working and need replacing. The park embellishments (seats, bins, paths, bridges, equipment) require improving, maintaining or replacing. Perhaps the development could be conditioned to require the developer (and subsequent developers) to contribute special funding (over and above the required infrastructure contributions) to repair and replace those assets upon commencement of works attached to this approval. Additionally, because of the location close to the sea, the rate of deterioration and corrosion on buildings, public assets and equipment is amplified and requires far more regular maintenance for property owners and the council alike. This needs to be considered when conditioning any development for servicing and the choice of equipment and materials to be used.

If the above issues were changed to what I have suggested, I would support the entire proposal.

While some of the changes to the previous approval that have been requested have merit, the proposal to have a series of residential house blocks of 300-400 sq m is inappropriate in the context of the surrounding area.

Many of the people who live in Casuarina are families who have young children. Housing blocks of 300-400 sq m will inevitable result in double story houses which will take up most of the available land on the block. These houses will have few if any trees and little space for yards for children to play in.

The houses will also be very close together, limiting the opportunity for cooling breezes to move between houses resulting in houses which need air conditioning for much of the year.

In addition, house blocks of this size are not featured elsewhere in the local area and will not add to the overall amenity of the suburb.

We own a unit in Santai Resort which overlooks the new proposed Casuarina Town Centre site.

Over the years we have been fighting to retain the 20m wide landscape buffer zone between the new Town Centre and the residents including Santai Resort on the northern boundary.

We have just reviewed the amended plans completed by Clarence Property Group and we confirm our support for the amended plans as they now include the 20m wide landscape buffer zone.

We support the approval of the plans by Department of Planning

I am a resident living on the northern boundary of the proposed Casuarina Town Centre.
We have reviewed the amended plans and support the approval of the plans as they have addressed all of our concerns in particular maintaining the 20m open space / vegetation corridor between the residents on the northern boundary and the future town centre.
To Clarence Properties credit they have listened to our concerns and amended the plans to meet our needs and the current plans with the 20m wide landscape buffer zone, the local road designed outside the buffer zone and the deletion of the hotel use and changing it to residential lots makes the current town centre plans the best plans completed to date.
We recommend the approval of the plans by the Department of Planning

I have been a regular visitor to the area and very concerned with the development of the town centre, we have reviewed the amended plans and support fully the changes that are proposed in the amended plans.

I'm currently looking at buying a block in the area and have reviewed the current development plans. I support the plans and encourage the approval by the Department of Planning.

Being a regular visitor to the Tweed and Casuarina area we are interested in the future proposed developments that are to be completed.
We have just reviewed the amended plans and am very excited to see the retainment of the 20m open space corridor and the changing of the zoning to include residential lots.
We approve the amended plans