See attachment for details of my objections.

We need more residential housing for people and workers in the Katoomba area. The retail will also create employment. It will also encourage and stimulate population growth. Hopefully we will see more infrastructure development with roads and public transport.

As a Blue Mountains resident for 16 years who greatly values the natural environment, I oppose the proposed development at 142-150 Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba. This is primarily on the basis of the detrimental impact that the proposal will have on the natural environment. I also greatly value the character of the built environment in the upper Blue Mountains, with low density housing that is sympathetic to the natural environment, as as such I oppose the proposal due to the inappropriate scale and zoning of the development.

The development will increase runoff and pollutants from entering precious Blue Mountains Swamps (a threatened ecological community) as well as the critically endangered Dwarf Mountain pine, both of which will be further threatened by the degrading effects of these increased urban impacts. These are under threat from current pressures and do not need any more threats to tip them over the edge towards extinction.

The proposed development is significantly larger than anything currently permitted in the Blue Mountains Local Government Area and does not comply with the current R3 Medium Density zoning under the Blue Mountains LEP (Local Environment Plan). The LEP reflects years of expert planning and community consultation and is tailored to the Mountains’ unique environmental context and includes strong environmental provisions to ensure that any new development is appropriately designed, scaled and sited. The developer's intent to seek rezoning to allow for the proposed high density development will undermine local planning and democracy and threatens the unique character of the Blue Mountains built environment that the expert planners and community have worked so hard to retain through the LEP. Therefore, I also oppose the use of the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway in the Blue Mountains.

Thank you for considering my response.

Yours sincerely,
Stephanie Chew
Wentworth Falls

I am a local resident and consider myself a caretaker of this beautiful Indigenous land I get to call home. I oppose the proposed development at 142–150 Narrow Neck Road, and I oppose the use of the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway in the Blue Mountains.

I chose to raise my family in the Blue Mountains because I want my children to grow up with a strong connection to and respect of nature. Moving to a place where the community upholds these values and aims to be stewards of the natural world, working in connection with, not in greed against it.

I have lived here for 5 years now, and before that I spent my weekends exploring the natural landscapes with my partner. We spend a lot of time in Katoomba and beyond as a family, its where my partner works and we maintain very wonderful, close minded friends

What matters most to me is that we acknowledge how we and the environment are part of the one ecosystem. This development disrupts the balance between natural and man-made ecosystems, affecting local diversity. It prioritises greed and overpopulation over ensuring that the character of the Blue Mountains is maintained; a close-knit community that lives in unison with the environment. A community that prioritises spaciousness in both physical and emotional ways. A community that prioritises and supports individuality, creative expression, and spiritual connection.

This project does not address the affordability crisis or provide people with a lifestyle that is in connection with these values, undermining the thriving culture we get to experience in the Blue Mountains today.

I really wanted to support this project - we need more housing and more people to support our local businesses, and Blue Mountains city council seems to rubber stamp any sort of development NO. But it's huge and has the potential to really change the area it is in. Nobody seems to adhere to the speed limits on Narrow Neck Rd and more traffic is going to make that even more dangerous. It's not just more housing that we need - it's more footpaths - especially along Narrow Neck Road, and more ways to get in and out of Katoomba especially on long weekends, holidays, and of course during bushfires. The fact that this land is already cleared makes me more inclined to support a project there, but would love to see this one downsized and traffic/footpath adjustments made.

As a 21 year resident of this locality I am aware of what should be acceptable and non-acceptable development, and this is clearly not acceptable for many reasons.
I believe this project has been submitted as State Significant by using the Housing Delivery Authority's objectives of increasing much needed housing. However, the planning submission clearly states that many of the apartments will be serviced and the inclusion of restaurants and other facilities clearly indicates that this development is, in effect, a hotel/apartment complex. Using the Housing Delivery Authority as a vehicle is therefore not in the spirit of building more housing to address a shortage, but is using the Authority to create tourist and weekender accommodation. That is not State Significant.
The surrounding area is currently being developed for more housing which is welcomed by locals given the current crisis. The difference being, however, that the new housing is being built under Blue Mountains City Council's rigorous development process and is not taking a planning short-cut.
My belief is that the proposed developer has not been up-front with locals. We have never received written notification of the DA and only learned of its fast-tracking thanks to vigilant locals who are as concerned as I am. Therefore trust in the process has been eroded.
Finally, the actual development itself. The proportions of the proposed buildings are outrageous for this area. There is little sympathy for the adjacent National Park and there is no development of this size anywhere within the Blue Mountains villages. Within Sydney, the Housing Delivery Authority has committed to delivering high density housing around railway lines and stations to sensibly enable a sustainable population increase. This development is 3 kilometres from Katoomba Railway Station with minimal public transport available. I seriously can't see how this fits into the HDA's purview, and even less how this could be classed as State Significant. It is basically a tourist development which will degrade the very environment the tourists are visiting to enjoy.

This is an absurd proposal for an area that is focused on, and economically dependent on, the preservation of wilderness and the conservation of the architectural heritage of the Blue Mountains’ towns. Surely it is completely at odds with the region’s classification as a World Heritage area?
The proposed buildings will create a blight on the local landscape, dominating the view west from the centre of Katoomba. They will be of a type and style that will be totally out of keeping with the town’s distinctive architecture. The scale of the development means it is highly likely to create significant environmental problems. The local infrastructure in terms of roads and other services is insufficient to support such a community or ensure its safety during emergencies such as bush fires. And where would the jobs come from to provide employment for all these new residents?
I am sure that the approval of this project will deter many potential residents drawn by the area’s nature and landscapes from ever moving here, and make others who moved here for those same reasons consider moving away, myself included. A development of this scale, ugliness and unsuitability can only have negative effects.
Despite the developer’s claims, we have no record or recollection of receiving any notification of this project.

This project is simply not fit for the environment it sits so closely too. As a young person I believe we do need more housing in the local area. However what we need is affordable housing that retains the character of this amazing place. These apartments can’t be considered as being environmentally sound. This development will jeopardise the local ecologies and change hydrological patterns that support them. I whilst unsightly stylistically (just personal preference) if this was to be more centrally located within the town centre that would be more appropriate. This proposal sits with a convenient proximity to the views over the Jamison Valley. If the view is obstructed you could infer that soon after development some trees may ‘mysteriously fall ill and die”. These spaces will become apart of a swathe of airbnb properties that are bought up by wealthy individuals out of area. A key problem in the creation of the current housing crisis. This sets a dangerous precedent for the area a WORLD HERITAGE LISTED national park. Surely that calls for some more consideration in what these developments are and where they are occurring. A failure to allow special considerations is a unmistakable act of disrespect of future generations and the integrity of the natural surrounding landscape. Remember gravity pulls things downward and the urban fabric of the area sits on the ridges and high points of the landscape. So an increase of pollutants, run-off and human activity directly affects the environment below it.

Please use your common sense to preserve the integrity of the valley.

Think of site appropriate development and push aside any financial aspects of this proposal. Me disagreeing with this development is reducing my ability to possibly enter the housing market in the area I love and grew up in. But the retention of our natural landscape is more important than that.

Consider this, I emplore you.
Hamish Clark, 22
Local student

For the reasons outlined by the Blue Mountains Conservation Society i don't believe that this proposal will be beneficial for this area and poor old Narrow Neck Rd in particular - the negatives outweigh the positives.

I have lived in Essenden Rd Katoomba for 12 years and am concerned about the serious problems this development will exacerbate.

Firstly, there is a high volume of pedestrian traffic along Narrow Neck Road. This includes : dog walkers, school kids, tourists , daily walkers , joggers, locals walking in to town as well as regular cyclists. There are no footpaths on Narrow Neck Rd, nor Cliff Drive,
Essendene rd nor most of the streets in the immediate vicinity of the proposed development . It is unsafe to be a pedestrian owing to the poor roads as well as an increase in residential AND tourist traffic which this development will bring especially in wet , foggy weather when it is even more hazardous to walk on the roads.
secondly, there has been a huge increase in touorist trafficcoming to view the sunsets at Cahills Lookout each evening. One night I counted 13 Korean mini buses and there are often full sized coaches too. There is not enough parking, no rangers or police to monitor traffic and pedestrians often walk behind reversing vehicles. Having more trourists residing at the new development will just worsen this taffic i nightmare.
Thirdly, the scale of the proposed development is inappropriate and out of character with all other buildings in the Upper Mountains. it is too large, ugly and will lead to environmental problems. Echidnas now live in this are around the golf course and bushland. The new houses further doen Narrow Neck Rd have already encroached on their habitat . it is not uncommon to see echidnas crossing Narrow Neck Rd nor to see their dead bodied after being hit by cars. Speeding and hooning drivers are parlty responsible for this.
Fourthly , this area is very prone to bushfires . I was here for the 2014 fire which started at Cahills Lookout. How can residents evacuate safely when we have another 300+people living in the area ? How do emergency vehicles access a fire on the same roads which we use to flee ?

There are many other problems with the proposed development reagarding soil, water run off and erosion.
how about you redevelop the old St Mary's school , using the vacant land behind the Edge cinema.
Thanks