Dear Major Projects Authority,
I am a local resident living in Leura Blue Mountains. We moved to the Blue Mountains from Sydney around 2 years ago as we wanted to have a more quite and peaceful lifestyle within a more nature based and sustainable environment. Blue Mountains is a very special place for us and the local community which also carries significant cultural importance for the Indigenous people of these lands (Dharug and Gundungurra People). We and the local community really value that Blue Mountains don't have high density housing and high rise buildings which is aligned with its nature.

After doing some research on the proposal and also talking with local housing experts, I oppose the 142-150 Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba proposal because this proposal would not only have adverse environmental impacts for the Blue Mountains area but it degrades the area's character. Moreover, it would create higher load on the public infrastructure including roads, increasing congestion, traffic and other public infrastructure as well, which gets stress tested during public holidays with increased tourist activity.

More importantly, giving a green light for this proposal would set a dangerous planning precedent for the entire Blue Mountains region for other large scale residential projects which would create significant risks for the area's natural and cultural integrity.

I also oppose the use of the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) approval in the Blue Mountains as I believe the Blue Mountains regions with such natural and cultural significance should be excluded from the HDA and other similar pathways.

I would like to encourage the Consent Authority visit the Blue Mountains region and the development site, including the surrounding visitor destinations and environmentally sensitive areas also undertake further conversations and surveys with local residents and Indigenous people.

Thank you for spending time to read my submission and I look forward to your response.
I would be happy to correspond if you have any questions or require any further information.

Sending best wishes,
Dr. Baran Yildiz,
Senior Lecturer,
School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering,
UNSW

I am a long term resident of The Blue Mountains. I have never before lodged a submission re development. I am very opposed to this development. It is my view that this does not support and is not a good fit to a community living in a Nation Park of world renown. If this project were to go ahead it would detract from the area's character and value.

The development is too big for where it’s going, in a part of Katoomba that people value for its quieter, low-rise feel and natural setting. There’s also worry about what it does to the surrounding bushland and views, which are a big part of why the area matters in the first place.

On a practical level, people question whether the roads, services, and emergency access can handle that many extra residents, especially in a bushfire-prone area.

And finally, there’s frustration about how it’s being assessed — because it’s a state-level project, locals and council don’t have as much say as they normally would.

Put simply: too big, wrong spot, added pressure on infrastructure, and not much local control over the decision.

I live in the Inner West and have, for many years and on a regular basis, travelled to stay and bushwalk in the upper Blue Mountains, including Katoomba. My experience has been that Katoomba is, in many respects, the centrepiece of the upper mountains towns - travellers from all over the world come to the upper Blue Mountains to experience its natural beauty and enjoy the ambience of the upper mountains townships. 
My concerns include the following:
(1) Because the development is so close to the World Heritage listed Greater Blue Mountains Area, it is likely that the project potentially affects at least one of the matters protected under the EPBC Act. On that basis, the development should be referred to the relevant Commonwealth authority for full assessment under the EPBC Act. 
(2) Because the site is adjacent to Blue Mountains swamps, the development is likely to have a detrimental environmental effect on the swamps with "knock-on" effects in other areas.
(3) The proposed height, scale and density of the development will materially diminish the character of Katoomba, and have a corresponding effect on the other upper mountains towns. By way of illustration:
- the design is double the height of currently permissible buildings so on this basis, the development would not be consistent with a number of the key design principles in Schedule 9 of the Housing SEPP. 
- the development will have a significant visual impact in areas near to the Blue Mountains National Park and World Heritage Areas.
I also object to:
- the rezoning of the site - the Blue Mountains Local Environment Plan (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 Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) being a consent authority for the upper Blue Mountains (Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba, Medlow Bath, Blackheath and Mount Victoria). The  existing LEP protections have been developed over 30 years to safeguard the Mountains’ environment and heritage. Because of their unique character and ambience, the upper Blue Mountains should be excluded from HDA and SSD pathways. 

Re: State Significant Development Application
Residential flat buildings at 142-150 Narrow Neck Road Katoomba
Application No. SSD-86456706


I have never made political donations – ever!

I accept the Department’s disclaimer and declaration.
My submission does not contain offensive, threatening, defamatory or inappropriate content.



I object to the above proposal because:-

* This ridiculous proposal is in the middle of a world heritage national park. Seriously, whose brilliant idea is this?

* It is clearly over-development in a fire prone area. The one narrow road in and out of the proposed area is absolutely ludicrous in the case of bushfires. Access is hard enough now without adding such a large development to the equation.

* The size of the buildings doesn’t comply with the mid to low rise housing reforms.
The nature of the buildings is densely congested -
nine four storey buildings with minimal space between them.

* There are no proposed improvements to infrastructure.

* The removal of 134 trees and inappropriate development will lead to massive run-off onto already damaged and endangered land.


Sara Hammond
Villa 8 The Escarpments
Katoomba 2780

The project is a bad fit for both the blue mountains and this particular location. It does not appropriately account for the significant bushfire risk associated with that area and the number of accomodation units are not in line with the blue mountains village atmosphere creating over population problems, traffic congestion and parking problems. I was also of the understanding that this type of high density housing development was excluded by our state government in the blue mountains because of the associated environmental impacts. The design of the building is sub standard. The mountains are cold, dwellings need to take advantage of natural sunlight and ventilation, lessons that have been learnt already in other upper mountains housing over many years dealing with mould , damp and poor health outcomes for those occupying them.
The development also impacts our fragile environment, our flora and fauna and water catchments. This is not the type of development we need or want in the Blue Mountains.
You should also consult with community better on these projects, especially with the local council. This would help with reaching more local residents who might be able yo provide feedback.
Thanks

I object to this proposal on the following grounds:
1. The HDA process overrides critical LEP protections that have been developed over 30 years to safeguard the Mountains’ environment and heritage; it is an inappropriate planning pathway.
2. This high-density, multistorey development proposal is in an already high-risk bushfire zone which increases evacuation challenges and puts lives at risk.
3. Local road networks will be heavily impacted by the significant increase in residential, commercial and tourist traffic.
4. Environmental damage - Paving over permeable surfaces, increasing stormwater runoff and negatively impacting downstream ecosystems, including endangered species, undermining the ecological values that underpin our World Heritage listing.
5. Loss of character - Dense, multistorey blocks would irreversibly change the leafy character streetscapes and heritage character that make the Blue Mountains unique.
6. Economic consequences - Tourism relies on our natural environment and village character. If these are eroded, so too is the foundation of our local economy.

I strongly oppose the proposed high-density development at Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba, as it conflicts with the environmental, safety, and community values of the Blue Mountains. The plan for over 200 apartments in multiple four-storey buildings is not appropriate for a World Heritage-listed landscape known for its natural beauty and ecological sensitivity. Fast-tracking approval through the Housing Delivery Authority bypasses established local planning controls and undermines years of community-led environmental protection.

The site’s location in a bushfire-prone area, with only a single access road, raises significant concerns about evacuation and public safety during emergencies. The development also risks environmental degradation through increased stormwater runoff, habitat disturbance, and visual impacts on the escarpment. Additionally, it threatens the character and tourism value that support the local economy. Approving this proposal could set a precedent for further high-density development in unsuitable locations and should not proceed in its current form.

In my opinion the proposed development at Narrow Neck Road is completely unsuitable for Blue Mountains. I am a full time artist and I have lived in the Blue Mountains for over 30 years. My husband and I have raised our family here and my mother (who is now 88) has lived here, for over 30 years also (with my Dad until he died in 2022), in Medlow Bath, overlooking the beautiful Megalong Valley. We love this place, it is a privilege to be able to live here, surrounded by our rugged cliffs, beautiful valleys and the wonderful wildlife we share it with. The string of Blue Mountains villages that are linked by the Great Western Highway each have their own character, with beautiful heritage buildings and many homes backing to the national park. As we go about our daily lives we all look out over the national park every day. We go for walks, drive through it, we live it and breath it. This is a unique place, both physically and culturally. The Blue Mountains community truly value the natural environment we live in. We DO NOT consider ourselves an outer suburb of Sydney! We are a World Heritage National Park! The Blue Mountains Local Environment Plan (LEP) is there to protect this unique place, it should NOT be allowed to be bypassed, ever. EVERY development proposal in the Blue Mountains should have to go through the Blue Mountains Council and meet the rigorous requirements of our LEP. There should be no exceptions. In the same way as the Blue Mountains was exempted from the NSW Low and Mid-rise Housing Policy, we should be exempted from the Housing Delivery Authority State Significant Development pathway. I am not against appropriate housing being built on the site at Narrow Neck Road, but this development, and every development proposal that will follow it, should all have to meet the standards of our Local Environment Plan which has been designed to protect our unique World Heritage National Park, the character of our villages and the culture of this special place we call home.

Amending the application from a low story accommodation (hotel) to density housing to be developed in a known adjoined mapped bushfire prone area where existing public roads are not ideal for high traffic and in an emergency, such as bushfire, would cause dangerous traffic congestion with residents and visitors unable to leave. An additional (min) 270 residents along with a current unknown number of visiting tourists for restaurants, galleries, information centre and wellness centre would cause issue on the existing public roads, where residents already experience traffic issues due to poor roads with no pedestrian footpath access. Parking is likely to also be an issue in the surrounding area, as in other tourist locations in the Blue Mountains as not all residents and visitors will be able utilise the basement parking. The re-zoning proposal to amend the building height from 8m to 15.6m would not align with existing current building heights within the area, given the proposed location, this building would be visible from nearly all vantage points within the Katoomba area. This includes National Parks and World Heritage areas. This will not only be unsightly, but may impact tourism as the majority of visitors come to experience the town atmospheres, nature and escape built up areas. The proposed site is part of the Sydney drinking water catchment area. Concerns this area may be compromised if stormwater along with any run-off from surfaced areas is not managed within the property and changed to overflow to (former) Katoomba golf course. There is plenty of land available in the Blue Mountains for development, surely an alternative location which is more fit for this purpose can be located.