The proposed development is being submitted as being for residential units. I believe it is inappropriate for residential use as:
1) There is no public transport nearby. The train station is nearly an hours walk away and (with the exception of peak period) has only an hourly service. Narrowneck Rd has no footpath and has narrow verges so walking to the station would require walking on the road for much of the way. Therefore, for most people, car use would be required.
2). The nearest facilities and services (shopping etc) are in Katoomba town centre. Again - car use would be required to access them.
3) Katoomba has limited shopping (no department stores, furniture, white goods etc). The nearest place offering these is Penrith, 50kms drive away.
4). Due to the location of the development, the units are unlikely to be “affordable”.
5). Many of the “residential” buildings in Katoomba are listed on AirBnB and are empty for the majority of the time. In March, there were OVER 1000 LISTINGS for complete houses or units in Katoomba that were empty (see attachment)
6) Due to the nature of the “extras” in the development (conference centre, restaurant, art gallery, wellness retreat etc), it appears that the developers are making it attractive for short term stays, rather than as a family friendly, affordable, conveniently located residential development.

Therefore, I think a better option to supply RESIDENTIAL housing in Katoomba would be to address the significant amount of housing (over 1000) that is currently used as short term accomodation via AirBnB and other online sites.

There are also many other reasons why this development is inappropriate (particularly environmental, visually intrusive, unsuitable for a World Heritage listed area etc). However my main concern is that the reason given for the development (residential housing) doesn’t hold up.

See my attachment submission. I object to the project because of major safety issues especially for people with disabilities

The proposed development is too large. It would be higher than any other apartment complex in Katoomba and would be an eyesore,visible from almost anywhere in the area. Cutting down the existing forest and putting in concrete will cause the degradation of the swamp area on the old golf course (now a nature reserve) feeding into the Kedumba river system and the Waragamba reservoir. In the event of a bushfire, the local roads would be clogged for any evacuation. This area was formerly designated a bush fire prone zone. The large number of proposed residents would find it difficult to find jobs and put a strain on local resources such as transport and education. There is already a pre-approved development scheduled to be constructed just down the hill, so this new complex would be adding insult to injury, turning a forested area into an urban nightmare. The Escarpments development is already having difficulty selling the existing units, so there is no need for additional housing in this area. The scheme under which this development is proposed is intended to help the housing crisis in NSW, but it makes no sense to channel these residents into a world heritage listed natural area. The Blue Mountains should be exempt from such emergency proposals as it has been from similar schemes in the past.

My comments are included in the attached pdf.

I am a long term resident of the Blue Mountains, and a keen bushwalker. The area planned for this development seems inappropriate to me, as it overrides the existing careful protection that is applied to all Mountains developments. The Blue Mountains heritage-listed area is important to locals and visitors alike for natural beauty, unspoiled views, and tranquil bushland. This proposed development would compromise these values, blocking views over Narrow Neck Plateau and Megalong Valley, increasing stormwater run-off, disrupting the ecosystems of local creeks and ultimately waterfalls in the area. Add to this the noise pollution that would be caused by extra road traffic and the quiet residential component nearby would be changed considerably.
The history of bushfires in this area should also be considered. While there might not have been bushfires on the land itself, the whole Narrow Neck/ Peckman's Plateau area has often been threatened, most recently in the 2019/2020 fires.
This development might provide some level of extra housing in the Blue Mountains, but it would be in the wrong place entirely. The idea of re-zoning the area to allow development strikes me as shocking and would, I feel, set a precedent for unlimited development throughout the Blue Mountains.
Therefore, I oppose this development and any other proposed HDA development here, and hope that it will not be approved.

This project is an absolute abomination. It is a huge bushfire risk, multi storey buildings in a high bush fire risk area with only one road in and out. Meaning the RFS and residents will all be put in danager next time we have a fire (and we have them regularly). It will also cause hugh environmental damage increasing stormwater runoff from hard surfaces in a vunerable area as well as the aging sewerage and water infrastructure . there will be major, negative economic consequences as the Blue Mountains is a major tourist destination and visitors do not want to see major medium rise buildings blocking or detracting from their viewing of our beautiful area. Many of the dwellings will undoubtably be used for Air B&B accommodation which, whilst bringing tourists to the area, is causing a lot of problems for local businesses as Air B&B guests do not eat out or support local businesses so do not generate income for the local community.

The manner in which this project has been approved is insulting to the Blue Mountains community. LEP and local planning rules have been created to support and protect our Heritage Listed environment and the HDA process has overridden this and fast tracked the wishes of big business and profit over the wishes of the people who currently live, work and enjoy this community and beautiful environment. This development sets an alarming precident for any developer looking to make a quick buck and will forever ruin our beautiful low density streetscape and greater World Heritage Listed environment.

I am totally opposed to the Narrow Road development. The development is totally out of character for the area and the Blue Mountains more broadly. The World Heritage values of the Blue Mountains are at risk with such an inappropriate development. The World Heritage values of the Blue Mountains are significantly influenced by the development that occurs and has occurred within the townships of the Blue Mountains. The aesthetic values for example may be significantly impacted by developments that protrude or intrude into the character of the natural environment and existing built environment. Large high rise multi-storey developments are an example of inappropriate development impacting upon the aesthetic values, fabric and setting of the World Heritage Area and Blue Mountains Township. Once a proposal of this nature is approved there will be no restraint on future developments of this nature which will significantly degrade the character of the Blue Mountains townships and the World Heritage Area values impacting upon their fabric and setting. Conservation of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and the townships is based upon the respect for the existing fabric, use, associations and meanings. The proposed development does not respect the existing fabric, associations and meanings. People come to the Blue Mountains to live and to visit because it is meaningful as a setting within nature, away from the metropolis and dense urban areas. It has strong associations with arts communities, spiritual communities and outdoors enthusiasts because of these meanings and associations. These meanings and associations have been maintained since the earliest history of the Blue Mountains when people would come to the mountains to experience the natural world and to be inspired. I am hoping that the process for assessing State Significant Development will take this into account and not just be an excuse to bypass the local government and local community concerns in favour of development at any cost. The proposed development will be seen on the horizon from as far away as Kanangra Walls and parts of the Wild dog Mountains, wild and rugged wilderness areas that will be punctuated by buildings breaking the skyline. The proposed development is so wrong, on so many levels, both the local impacts and impacts and issues from the adjoing World Heritage Area.