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

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