I stand against this development for the following reasons. Firstly - the Blue Mountains is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is already at risk of impact from existing urban areas inside it. What makes it special and brings visitors to this area is the distinct lack of development and the preservation of the wilderness surrounding it. Hopefully council and residents can make these areas more sustainable going forward; an easier task at our current scale. A dense development like this will undoubtedly put further strain on the natural environment in this area, while also becoming a blemish on the skyline that currently provides residents and visitors with a beautiful view into the Jameson and Megalong Valleys. I fear this building would also set a precedent for future development that would facilitate overtourism, congestion of resident access and unsustainable amounts of waste from developments such as this. Council already struggles to maintain roads and other aspects of our urban environment in Katoomba and surrounding villages.

Further, the fact this area and development has been deemed safe from bushfires is pure fallacy and emblematic of our arrogance surrounding the control of the inherently chaotic nature of the elements. The entire Blue Mountains National Park is at risk of bushfire, especially locations such as these which are very close to the valley. Residents of such a development would be at risk of the ongoing unpredictable conditions of our climate here in what is essentially the deep wilderness of the National Park..

In a rapidly urbanised world, the Blue Mountains National Park is a unique sanctuary that can be enjoyed by many people from around the world. But there are limitations to this that must be responsibly managed to ensure this will be a reality in the future. We must move towards making what we already have here more harmonious with the environment, not creating larger, more denser urban projects.

Dear NSW Planning,

I am deeply opposed to this development because:

a) it features double the housing density and double the height of other development in the area, and overrides the highly appropriate limits for these attributes set in the local Council's Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP).
b) development like this is dangerous given the site is surround by bushfire prone land
c) community consultation has been flawed and totally inadequate
d) affordable housing provisions are temporary and therefore tokenistic
e) the building heights will make the buildings visible in the distance and corrupt visible amenity that is a distinct part of the World Heritage values of the area.

I agree with the objections raised by the Blue Mountains City Council and the Blue Mountains Conversation Society. I am horrified that State Government instruments - State Significant Development and Housing Delivery Authority - are being used to fast track an appalling and community-abusive development.

Yours sincerely,

Please see the attached document for my thoughts on this proposal.

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. We relocated to live in the Blue Mountains a year and a half ago because of our appreciation of the delicate ecosystems, and incredible natural landscape. It is devastating to think that this development is going to impede and negatively impact this delicate ecosystem.
It also would be very sad to bring an aesthetic and landscape design that is not congruent with the rest of the area and the cultural identity. It is the particular cultural identtity and aesthetic that respects the natural landscape and prioritises its health and protection that has attracted many with similar values towards the mountains.

Keep Katoomba seperate from Sydney suburbs, retain nature and community within the town.
I oppose the development strongly.

This development is entirely unsuitable for the site. There are currently no other buildings of 5 stories anywhere in the Blue Mountains. Such projects should be confined to the already developed corridor by the highway and the railway line. This proposed development is very close to the escarpment and the national park and is in a very dangerous location for bushfire danger. As the proposed 200 plus residential units will be occupied overnight, evacuation if needed could be very difficult leading to congestion on the small local road with a disastrous outcome. Additionally these 7 monstrous eyesores of 5 stories high buildings will be highly visible and overwhelming from many points in Katoomba. Please reconsider overriding the very valid environmental plans of our local council, who are entirely opposed to this development. We have a great responsibility to tread carefully in our unique city within a world heritage national park. Please don't let money talk so loudly here. Don't force the Blue mountains community to comply with developments that are entirely inappropriate for the area. We can never be viewed as just another suburb of Sydney! We live right within a fragile and precious wilderness area and we need to protect it. These proposed units will cause much stress on all local resources and be a blight on the landscape. Please reconsider!

I have been living in the Blue Mountains for 30 years. I chose to move here because I am a lover of nature and appreciate the natural environment- being surrounded by National Park is a gift and a responsibility. I teach permaculture and have been living by permaculture philosophy for decades. Living in line with nature is one critical component for moving towards a sustainable life.
This proposal would have significant environmental impacts including loss of biodiversity and bush land close to the escarpment. It would degrade the character of Katoomba.
It is disrespectful towards the traditional owners of this land, the Dharug and Gundungurra people. We owe them to care for this land in a way that cares for country and their people.
Approval of this project sets a dangerous planning precedent for the entire Blue Mountains.
My view is that the LGA Blue mountains should be specifically excluded from the HDA approval due to the fact that it contains a World Heritage National park. The local council is better placed to understand and know what will work and is appropriate for this area.
Thank you for reading and hearing my objection

I have lived in Katoomba for 50 years and deeply care for the place I am so fortunate to call home. I am deeply disturbed by this development proposal and the implications it has for the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains, for present and future generations.
The NSW State Government has disturbingly put in place a Fast Track process through the Housing Development Authority (HDA) which invites developers to avoid local planning and scrutiny. The Blue Mountains over the past thirty years has carefully developed a Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and as with our Development Control Plan (DCP), this proposal far exceeds the limits set ; limits that have served our community and the World Heritage environs well, and will undoubtedly result in the desecration of those environmental protections and imperil the unique heritage of our towns. The HDA, allows developers to gain approval for inappropriate development that does nothing to ease the the housing affordability and supply crisis as is certainly the case in this instance.
If this proposal is approved it opens the door for developers to submit proposals with very little community consultation or opportunity to make a submission. The EIS has only given us 14 days with which to study it and submit a response, a deliberate tactic to minimise opposition and scrutiny.
We are being treated with contempt, by both the NSW State Government and the developer.
The Narrow Neck Road development would add greatly to our bushfire risk in a High-risk zone, it would imperil ecosystems and irreparably damage the heritage character of the Blue Mountains town and villages that makes it so unique and in doing so potentially would have a negative impact on tourism.
The rapid expansion of the population in Western Sydney and the accompanying high density housing and shrinking green space, only highlights how precious the Blue Mountains are and need to be preserved,
I implore you to reject this proposal and exclude the Blue Mountains Government Area from the HDA pathway.
Kathleen Herbert, Katoomba

A development of this size in an environmentally sensitive area, that is prone to bushfires and in a location that does not have infrastructure such as transport is totally unsuitable.
Fire vulnerability - an emergency exit plan for this number of new residents (as well as existing residents in the area) needs to be provided to the community to provide evidence that the development is safe. As there is poor public transport in the area the residents will be relying on the use of cars, which will be also be needed for emergency vehicles if they need to evacuate in an emergency.
The height and size of the structure will make the development the most prominent visible structure in the area. This will detrimentally change the visual aesthetic of the area - both the historical urban environment and natural environmental aesthetic
The Blue mountains needs more affordable housing rather than tourist accommodation. The 15% affordable housing can return to market value after 15 years and this is not sufficient to support what is needed in the region at this time and into the future.
The Blue Mountains is a UNESCO world heritage site celebrating a unique biodiversity, the evolutionary history of Eucalyptus, and Aboriginal cultural heritage. Any development needs to be sensitive to this - I do not think this development achieves the balance of respecting and understanding the environment and the Aboriginal cultural heritage that is integral to this area.