Although the idea of developing land in the mountains is sound, there are two key issues with such a development to the community and the nature around it.

The first is the traffic. Narrow neck road and the surrounding areas are popular with tourist and events, with freqrunt trail running festivals and conventions being held at the KCC. The traffic’s situation is so severe already that on weekend, there is frequently lines of cars parked all along the road. Adding such a large quantity of new housing to the area would create a situation where there is simply too many people trying to move around in a place that has not been upgraded to handle that sort of volume. The road is at the end of the day very narrow.

The second issue is disturbance of a naturally beautiful area. Building in the blue mountains, for better or worse, become part of the scenery. People travel from all over the world to see our blue mountains and to alter it with an apartment block where one ought not be, is simply an untenable idea. A house in the area is a reasonable idea but apartment risks changing th area in such a significant way that it risks removing some of its inherent charm.

I object to the construction of such a large scale and highly condensed group of high rise buildings in the heart of Katoomba. I believe this is not a suitable use of land in this location and would have an immense impact on the sensitive environment we live in as well as town road conditions. I also believe a complex like this would be an eyesore and does not align with the character and culture of the blue mountains.

This density of housing will impact the visual aesthetics of a heritage town, is too close to the national park to create higher density housing (considerations around bushfire etc) and will create congestion on roads that are already not well resourced with safe places for the public to walk. Not near the train station, so the increase to cars in the area would be dramatic and concerns about construction close to the location of various critically endangered plants and their habitats like the Leioneima lachnioides and Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii are concerning. We don’t need more low quality builds that will decay quickly and cause disturbance to the adjacent world heritage wilderness. We need more affordable housing in Katoomba, not high priced accommodation. Are there plans for evacuation coming into an incredibly dry and hotter than average winter and increased serious weather events due to climate change?

I object to the building of this monstrosity as it would be nothing but detrimental to the environment and the community in the area. Please heed our voice and do not condone the construction of this eyesore.

I strongly object the proposal
Katoomba should maintain its heritage and low rise single housing
Mid rise should not be supported

see attached

This area is not suitable for so many apartments for a number of reasons, but mainly because there is not the infrastructure to support it.

It is too far to walk to the commercial area of Katoomba so will increase traffic in what is already a congested traffic area with insufficient parking and there are no buses. This also makes it unsuitable for those without cars which may include older residents, tourists or affordable housing residents.

The increase in population will put pressure on the already stretched Blue Mountains Hospital and local schools, as well as GP services. There is no allocation within this housing development for essential workers such as nurses, doctors, aged care workers and teachers which is a sad oversight.

It will just put more people and traffic into the area without providing the support for a growing community to function well, especially given nearly 25% of the development will be serviced apartments.

If a new development has to go ahead somewhere near the train line on the north side of the highway would make much more sense so that there is access to public transport, and would also have a lower risk for bushfire. Narrow Neck Rd is absolutely the wrong location for this and it will not work.

This project will have significant negative environmental effects on the Blue Mountains World Heritage area. I refer to and adopt the detailed objections outlined in the submission from the Blue Mountains Conservation Society.

After reading the information provided on the NSW Planning website relating to a “State Significant Development. Exhibition Residential flat buildings at 142-150 Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba” I wish to register my objections to this project.

It appears the Developer seemed assured of their position in advance given that they have cleared the site of bush and vegetation mid 2025 before this proposal was even brought to public attention. Coincidence?
It has been said the Developer advised the Planning Dept. that a “letterbox drop” was circulated to residents within a 1klm of the site. I am within 1 klm and neither I or my neighbours received any such information from the Developer in reference to this project.
In a document by the NSW Gov. …..State significant infrastructure guidelines – preparing a scoping report … states the Developer has an obligation to have Community Engagement under 3.5 Community engagement = Page 10. I have checked under the EIS (56) and no section refers to Community Engagement in any of the documents. If the Developer states, there has been engagement then it should provided within the EIS (56) information. If this documentation is available, then I request a copy by return ..thanks.
My objections to this proposal are as follows

a] The location in the World Heritage Area. It can be said that people who live in such a location can be too precious about their area but feel they want and need to protect it for future generations and I for one feel that responsibility. The proposed unit blocks will be the first high rise buildings in the Blue Mountains area. This may be used to leverage other such developments in the future. Others have identified the impact on the surrounding environs as to damage that can occur away from the site caused by the development of the site.

b] The Proposed Unit Blocks. In the proposed unit blocks plans it appears an attempt has been made to squeeze as many onto this small parcel of land. This leads to very narrow road access into and out of the area. Access by fire brigades, ambulances and other emergency services can be obstructed by vehicles parked in the road during an emergency. The proposal identifies parking as follows Quote ……”7 residential flat buildings 24-32 apartments each (with basement parking for 289 spaces (256 spaces for Buildings A-G and 33 spaces for Building H)) A restaurant (18 car spaces on ground level)” …… end quote Which reads as each building has 289 spaces for parking, obviously incorrect which begs the question what parking is proposed. Again, this is basement parking but I doubt day to day residents would be likely to park in the basements and not on the road.

c] Traffic Flow. The proposed access and egress to the site is onto Narrow Neck Rd. This road is single lane in each direction leading to the GWH. From the GWH the road is part of the Blue Mountains Scenic Drive which is used by many people visiting the scenery of the Blue Mountains. These visitors can be from overseas countries used to driving on the opposite side of the road to Australia and this has led to previous accidents. The road is in poor condition with no kerb or guttering in places. The edges are crumbling with large potholes too. It is obvious this road is unlikely to survive the heavy construction vehicles that will use it if this proposal goes ahead. The road is under the BMCC and if damage occurred then the repair cost would be borne by local ratepayers. This would seem unreasonable that a Developer can make their money and not pay for repairs. The proposed units would bring at least 300 vehicles onto to this road, even more given that some people would have two vehicles.

d] Bushfire Risk. As in the past, the Blue Mountains is in a permanent danger area for bushfires. We have been evacuated twice over the years as bushfires were threatening our home. Also people who live opposite side of Narrow Neck Road to the proposed unit blocks. If an evacuation was necessary, the only escape route would be onto the GWH and with the added vehicles traffic chaos would ensue.

e] Enviros / Wildlife. Prior to the proposal this location was covered with trees and bush undergrowth as has been identified in the EIS [56]. The site was cleared in 2025, before the development proposal, the habitat of much of the wildlife would have been destroyed. There were small animals and birds which could be seen on a walk through the area. If this proposal is granted the construction of these units will create more disturbance in the area and a likelihood of further contamination to the water in the creek below the location. With the buildings and surrounds it will create hard surfaces where water from the site will flow downhill into the waterways eventually flowing downstream to the Katoommba Falls recreation area.

f]. Finally. This unit development has a lot of negatives given the location it is proposed to occupy. It would be more appropriate to other locations within the Blue Mountains where existing infrastructure can accommodate such a proposal. The BMCC could provide details of such a location, but it appears they have been frozen out but are doing their best being proactive in representing their ratepayers. Our local member has raised the issue too within the NSW Planning and was awaiting a reply.

I would like to finish with this quote from Hon Paul Keating.
Financial Review Oct 31 2006. At a conference hosted by the Local Government Association of NSW, Mr Keating said centralised planning powers had elevated the status of developers like Meriton's Harry Triguboff, leading to developments that were not in the community's best interests. End quote This quote represents the feelings of many in the community when it comes to the possible developments of these unit blocks at this location.