I strongly oppose this proposal on the grounds that it represents a gross overdevelopment entirely inconsistent with the character of Katoomba and the Blue Mountains. The proposed floor space ratio uplift to 1.17 and maximum building height of 15.6 metres far exceed what the Local Environmental Plan permits, and as a resident of the broader Blue Mountains community in Leura, I am directly affected by decisions that erode the unique heritage and low-density character of this World Heritage Listed area. The removal of 134 of the 206 trees on the site is unacceptable environmental destruction that conflicts with the conservation values this region is legally and internationally obligated to uphold.
I raise serious concerns about public safety, particularly regarding bushfire evacuation. With only a single two-lane road providing access, evacuation from the proposed site would be severely constrained in an emergency, and Cliff Drive — just around the corner — was repeatedly closed due to fire threats during the catastrophic 2019–20 fire season. Adding over 270 dwellings and serviced apartments to this location without adequate evacuation infrastructure is reckless, and no amount of design mitigation adequately addresses the fundamental risk of placing a high-density population in a bushfire-prone escarpment location. I urge the Department to reject this application as it is the thin edge of a wedge. It is appalling that this application could be approved.

Please see attached pdf

Please see attached objection

As a current Katoomba resident and Blue Mountains local for several years, I strongly object to this project. The environment both natural and built in the Blue Mounains is of great importance to me as both a regualr bushwalker and bush regenerator and a local historian. For the first time in the Blue Mountains, a developer is seeking approval under the Housing Delivery Authority for a large-scale, high-density project at 142–150 Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba - a proposal that far exceeds the limits set in the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP). The Blue Mountains is a place of outstanding natural beauty. Our National Park is World Heritage-listed, our townships have a unique character, and our communities have worked tirelessly for decades to protect the environment, through careful local planning. My key concerns include:
The inappropriate planning pathway - The HDA process overrides critical LEP protections that have been developed over 30 years to safeguard the Mountains’ environment and heritage.
The worsening of traffic congestion - there is already too much traffic from tourist cars and buses in the area and the bus routes and times only cater for tourists and not for regular commuters
The bushfire risk - High-density, multi-storey housing in an already high-risk bushfire zone increases evacuation challenges and puts lives at risk.
The environmental damage - Paving over pervious surfaces, increasing stormwater runoff and disrupting ecosystems, undermining the ecological values that underpin our World Heritage listing.
The loss of character - Dense, multi-storey blocks would irreversibly change the leafy character streetscapes and heritage character that make the Blue Mountains unique.
The economic consequences - Tourism relies on our natural environment and village character. If these are eroded, so too is the foundation of our local economy.
If the HDA pathway is allowed to proceed in the Blue Mountains, it would open the door for similar high-density projects across our towns - changing the region forever.
I am calling for this development not to be approved, and for the Blue Mountains Local Government Area to be excluded from the HDA pathway.

I object to this development.
I treat this development application as though I owned the land and wanted to develop it. And are therefore subject to the Council regulations for the Heritage Blue Mountains. So my objections are listed below. These are all the points that Council would refuse my development application and they should therefore hold true for any body intending on developing this area. One rule should fit all
For starters as a citizen our Council would not let me develop this site for the following reasons.......
*The Blue Mountains is a World Heritage Area and only Banff in Canada is the other. Therefore we need to be the gold standard for development. And all developments need to show respect for this area and tread lightly.
*This development is too dense for the site. These "blocks" are too close together and there isn't sufficient area provided for green space.
*All the trees except for 2 pines in the middle of the block would be saved.
*This is a fire prone area. And the zoning of this block is still being considered.
*The street it is on is called Narrow Neck for a reason......so in the case of an emergency there is no way between 500 to 600 people would be able to safely evacuate on this very minor road. This also means that the residents in this area, on this road, would be swamped by the residence of this development when trying to also evacuate.
*The height of this development exceeds the height restrictions in this area. This development would be of a height of 15.6mts. When the surrounding developments are either single storey or 8mts.
This development would stand out like a sore thumb. It would be able to be seen from many tourist viewing platforms within the Mountains. It will overshadow itself as well as the surrounding properties.
*The slope of this area exceeds 20% and this hasn't been taken into consideration.

The proposed development consists of excess height, bulk and scale that is intrusive to the heritage and environmentally sensitive context of the proposed development. The development should not be approved.

This HDA pathway process completely overrides and undermines years of work by the community, council and state government in developing appropriate guidelines for developments in the Blue Mountains within this World Heritage National Park. It should not be used for development in this national park.
A four to five story development on a ridge line will be visible from numerous points in Katoomba and is not compatible with any other development in the area. For some reason the site is not zoned bush fire prone although I have witnessed bush fire coming over the Narrow Neck ridge line, the road closed and the road full of fire firefighting trucks and personnel, it is not a suitable area for this type of development and influx of people who undoubtedly will be mainly holiday makers, Air BnBers etc Not permanent residents contrary to statements by the proposed developer.
Every person I have spoken to both resident in the Blue Mountains and none resident are absolutely horrified by this proposal.

See 3 page submission attached

The panoramic view of Narrow Neck Katoomba from the western perspective ie from the Megalong Valley has been historically and currently , unimpeded natural beauty comprising majestic sandstone cliffs and forests uncompromised by man made structures and /or developments.
The Proposed development, specifically the height of same ,will be visible in whole or part from the Megalong Valley and thus significantly degrade what has been a vista of uninterrupted natural beauty from the Shipley Plateau thru Megalong Head to the southern tip of Narrow Neck. Such an unprecedented blight on this awesome panorama surely cannot be acceptable to any rational and caring person.
Additionally we have sited our vineyard and cellar door to allow visitors maximum opportunity for exposure to this
unique natural experience and this will be irrevocably spoilt and downgraded forever if this development proceeds .Further we have invested significant amounts of time and money to maximise customer/visitor benefits of this natural landscape and this development would devalue those efforts to our detriment and the Megalong Valley and Blue Mountains Tourism in general . In such case we will have to consider other means to stop the development and/or be compensated if it was to proceed.
Hopefully sanity will prevail and this will not be necessary.

Please find attached PDF file. :-)