I support this project.

Please refer to my attached submission for details of my concerns and objections to this project

In addition to the comments on the attachment, I would like to share that several colleagues thought the proposed development was so out of keeping with the Blue Mountains environment that they thought it was a hoax.

I oppose this proposed apartment and serviced apartments project and oppose the proposed rezoning of this site. While I support appropriate new housing being built in the Blue Mountains, Greater Sydney and NSW, this proposed project would be totally inappropriate overdevelopment of this site.

Disturbingly, this project proposes to ignore and ride roughshod over the planning requirements in the BMCC LEP and DCP as it:
* is 3.5km from Katoomba train station with limited public transport and limited road access. The concurrent rezoning application is false and misleading when it claims that it is only 1.6km from Katoomba town centre.
* is proposed to have an increased height limit of 15.6m, almost double the current zoning which only allow buildings of up to 8m in height
* is proposed to have an increased floor space ratio (FSR) of 1.17.1, almost double the limit in the current zoning which only allows a FSR of 0.6.1
* was previously zoned as bushfire prone before this development proposal but had a mysterious and unexplained change of bushfire zoning to not be bushfire prone any more after this development application was lodged
* would have significant and very detrimental visual impacts on the escarpment and World Heritage landscape
* would set a terrible precedent of allowing large, tall apartment development projects in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (WHA) which are highly visible from remote areas of the WHA
* would have significant and detrimental environmental impacts on the Katoomba Creek catchment
* does not adhere to the design standards in the Apartment Design Guide in terms of the proposed spacing between apartment buildings which are only 3-5m apart in many places
* does not adhere to the requirements for a Protected Area-Slope Constraint Area in the BMCC LEP - it proposes to totally ignore these requirements which are designed to protect environmentally sensitive areas.
* has not undertaken required community consultation. I live near this proposed development and have not been notifed of this proposal by the proponent. I only found out about it by reading about recently in the local newspaper.

The only benefit that I can see this proposed development offering is financial gain for the proposed developers. Given that the location is not conducive to a very large housing development this is obviously going to have an equally large environmental impact due to the sheer volume of increased traffic and human activity in this area. There is no evidence that the amenities proposed as part of the residential complex will service anyone other than the future residents of the complex, and therefore existing businesses i.e. local restaurants are not likely to benefit from additional residents (permanent or otherwise). The proposal does not fall in line with what the Blue Mountains City Council are aiming to do for its residents which is to improve the built environment whilst preserving the nature of its surrounds for generations to come. If this proposal is given the go ahead, it is likely to encourage further development pressure upon our community.

My objections to the proposed development are:
1. The density of housing is inappropriate for the local area. The density should reflect the Local Government's Planning Scheme.
2. The proposed multiple storey apartments are not consistent with the Local Government Planning Scheme - Blue Mountains Local Environmental Plan 2015, nor the character of the local area. The maximum building height and floor space should reflect what is allowed under the Blue Mountains Local Environmental Plan 2015.
3. The proposed density would concentrate up to 10% of Katoomba's population in an area with limited public transport connection, thus contributing to an overly car-based area. This development is not consistent with the NSW Government Active Transport Strategy.
4. The proposed development sits at the top of the Katoomba Creek Falls and Jamison Valley, the highly valued and probably most popular part of the World Heritage Area. Increasing the population in this area runs the risk of significant environmental impacts including polluting the waterways.
5. The site for this development is near the edge of the escarpment and buildings of this height would be visible from vantage points all around Katoomba. This is an eyesore and detracts from the vistas and views many residents and tourists come to the Blue Mountains to see.

I am a new resident of Katoomba and I strongly oppose to the project given that:
• The scale of the development is inappropriate for the area, both in regards to the height of the building and the volumes of foot and car traffic.
• The area has limited access to services and public transport, while the land is entirely bushfire prone and the negative impact of the development on water catchment areas is potentially significant.
• I understand from a wide range of community members that various key stakeholders weren't consulted on the proposal, including local Aboriginal residents and Conservation/Heritage groups.
• The allocated percentage of affordable housing does not justify this development - it will not bring any benefits to the community, instead will only add negative impacts to the environment and infrastructure.
• I live within a 2km radius of the site and have not received any notification from the developer at my postal/residential address since late 2025.

I wish to formally object to the proposed development at Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba.

The scale and nature of this proposal would permanently alter Katoomba’s established village character and place significant strain on already limited local infrastructure. The site is currently zoned R3 Medium Density under the Blue Mountains Local Environmental Plan, with a maximum permitted building height of 8 metres (approximately two storeys). The proposal to rezone the land to accommodate a four-storey, high-density development represents a substantial and inappropriate departure from existing planning controls.

Such an increase in density is out of scale with the surrounding area and inconsistent with the planning framework intended to preserve the unique character of the Blue Mountains. Approving a development of this magnitude would set an undesirable precedent for future proposals.

The impact on local infrastructure is also a serious concern. The development would introduce several hundred additional vehicles onto narrow local roads that are not designed to accommodate such traffic volumes. Public transport options in the area are limited, increasing reliance on private vehicles. Essential services, including sewerage and electricity, are already operating near capacity and are unlikely to sustainably support a significant population increase without substantial upgrades.

In addition, the proposal threatens the distinctive character and appeal of Katoomba and its surrounding visitor destinations. High-density, multi-storey, urban-style development is incompatible with the scale, landscape, and cultural identity of the Blue Mountains. The potential consequences for tourism, liveability, and community wellbeing are considerable.

I have lived in the Blue Mountains for over 20 years and chose to raise my family here because of its unique natural environment and character. This proposal does not respect those qualities and is not an appropriate development for this location.

For these reasons, I strongly urge that the proposal be refused.

I strongly object to this development being built for many reason and I will speak for myself rather than making assumptions about others.
I moved from Sydney to the Blue Mountains to enjoy a simple life in a pristine environment. I wanted to bring my children up in a location without shopping malls and over developed sites. This development would be more suited to an urban landscape and not the picturesque landscape that surrounds Narrow Neck. It looks odd and out of place.
I have watched a huge fire go over Narrow Neck Road not that long ago and it was terrifying to watch the fire creep closer to homes and scenic world. How would hundreds of people be evacuated quickly in the middle of the night if a fire came through? There is no way I would live out there. You would be putting peoples lives in danger and also the emergency service people.

I would like to express my total disapproval of the proposed development at 142-150 Narrow Neck Road Katoomba.

The nature of the construction is contemptuous to the Blue Mountains environment, occupying ridge land that will be visible from so many view points of Katoomba and surrounds.

One attraction of the current Katoomba environment it that it is low-key - ie. small businesses, cottages that date from the 1800's and 1900's, and relatively low concentrations of tourist activity.

The area of the proposed development is in a high bushfire risk area, with limited access. Do the developers assume that the Rural Fire Service will take responsibility for protecting the site, with 266 units of residents, all wanting to leave in a hurry when a fire approaches?

This is an inappropriate pathway for a development such as this, to go through the Housing Delivery Authority. I ask that the Blue Mountains Local Government Area be excluded from the Housing Delivery Authority pathways from now on.

This development is totally out of character with the World Heritage Area on its doorstep, and the built heritage of the Blue Mountains. Part of charm of the Blue Mountains and life-giving peace and quiet, and attraction is its old world feel, set within a natural area of great beauty that can be destroyed by over development such as this proposal at 142-150 Narrow Neck Road.