To whom it may concern,
I am writing to object to the proposed State Significant Development at 142–150 Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba.
This proposal is fundamentally inconsistent with the environmental, cultural, and planning context of the Blue Mountains. The scale and height of the development, significantly exceeding existing controls under the Blue Mountains Local Environmental Plan 2015, would introduce a form of urban density that is out of character with the area.
The site raises a number of serious concerns:
It is located in a bushfire-prone area with known evacuation constraints, raising safety risks for both future residents and the broader community.
Its proximity to the escarpment and World Heritage Area means the development will have a substantial visual impact on a landscape of recognised global significance.
The location, outside the Katoomba town centre with limited public transport and services, raises questions about the appropriateness of such density in this area.
There is potential for downstream environmental impacts given the site's position within the Katoomba Creek Falls catchment.
More broadly, approving a development of this scale in such a sensitive location signals a troubling disregard for the unique environmental and heritage values of the Blue Mountains. It risks setting a precedent that prioritises short-term development outcomes over long-term stewardship of a World Heritage landscape according to relevant conventions.

I urge the NSW Government to reject this proposal or, at a minimum, require substantial reconsideration and redesign to align with local planning controls and environmental constraints.

Yours sincerely,

I have 4 primary objections to the planning proposal:
1) Narrowneck Road is well within a dangerous bushfire zone with difficult access and one road in and out. To facilitate hundreds more people to live within that zone is courting disaster. The proposal far exceeds the limits set in the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP), guidelines that were set decades ago to protect the unique environment of the upper Blue Mountains and to protect existing residents from bushfire risk.
2) The proposal will damage the fragile soils and ecology of the area, causing significant stormwater run-off and damaging ecosystems.
3) There is no allowance within the proposal for low cost and social housing. A small fraction is earmarked as affordable housing, and even that would remain unaffordable to many low income families in this area. Katoomba is a low income area that is desperately short of accommodation for low income households. This is the wrong solution in the wrong place.
4) Tourism is vital to the area's local economy. Tourists visit Katoomba because of its outstanding natural environment and village character. This proposal, and others like it that will inevitably follow if this one is approved, will irreversibly damage the local economy.

Infrastructure in the area of the proposed development is already at capacity, ingress and egress to the town via the great Western highway is already severely compromised particularly during peak periods, this impacts travel for those using the GWH to travel between the Greater Sydney area and the Central West. The development is also of a size and design that is out or character for an area whose economy is reliant on nature and the natural landscape

I do support the project, but would like to know there will increased infrastructure in the surrounding suburbs to reduce the road congestion this will cause.

I object on the grounds that are pretty obvious to anyone that has ever lived in the blue moutains, visited the blue mountains, read about the blue mountains, seen pictures of the towns in the blue mountains or just has any sense whatsoever. High density dwellings don't belong in the blue moutains. It doesn't match the aesethics of the a is, the lack of obscene high density dwellings and village vibe. They definitely dont belong near the bush where bushfires are a real risk.

Please refer to document attached.

The proposal for high-rise high density housing in this area is totally out of character an inappropriate for the Blue Mountains National Park in that it would adversely affect current infrastructure, poses a high risk for a large number of people to be in a bushfire prone area with poor road access, And the proposal is being pushed through in such a way that it circumvent the input and disregard the objections of local council, who are the representatives of the residents In the area.
I personally feel that this proposal is being rushed through a loophole by an unnamed developer who is showing no due consideration for the Blue Mountains world Heritage National Park and the adverse effect of such a development on the residence who choose to live here.

There is a lack of affordable housing options especially for younger, single and older people around the upper mountains. I have seen countless peers over the past 5-10 years struggling to find suitable housing, especially small families and separated couples. A lack of suitable housing for younger people getting into the housing market is also prevalent in our area. This type of housing is perfect for their situations and I would love to see it added to our local community.
The majority of push back I have seen to this project appears to be misled and baseless. The area is not at a high bushfire risk and the only notable fire in that area that has been brought up was over 500 metres away and only destroyed 1 house. This development would obviously be built to modern fire standards and would not pose any additional risk. The proximity to public transport also seems irrelevant as there is no doubt that bus routes would be added with an increase in population.
I am highly in favour of this local development and hope to see it proceed in order to increase our housing supply in a significant way

Dear Planning,
I object to this proposal as it is not in keeping with the area - it would stand out for its looming over-sized scale. The physical size, number of levels and footprint are in contrast to the surrounding properties, street, block and suburb. There is nothing like it this side of the Nepean River (over 1 hr drive east). It would disrupt the tranquil, natural, modest scale of the existing surrounds and structures, which are, importantly, within the UNESCO Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Although I am sympathetic to the need for housing, the scale of this, clearly built for maximum commercial gain, not community or social interest, is vile.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond.
Yours faithfully.