I have been a regular six weekly visitor to Hawks Nest for 35 years. Our family owns a house in Hawks Nest. I object to the proposal as I believe the development proposed for Sanderling Avenue is completely out of character for the suburb - and the location where building is proposed being along the beach front encroaching on sand dunes and in the vicinity of the National Park and its resident wildlife. I am also concerned that the road and other infrastructure in the area will not cope with additional housing to the extent of the proposed development.

Objection attached

Hawks nest/ Tea Gardens does not have the infrastructure to support this development. The size of the project does not fit in with planning approval guidelines provided to the developer. Please do not turn our small seaside town into a Forster NSW type of place.
Lastly there is a lot of local wildlife that will be displaced by this construction .

Please see attached my submission objecting to SSD-82066472 Sanderling Avenue, Hawks Nest
Carol Dawn Engel

I wish to formally object to this proposed development for several important reasons.

Firstly, the claim that this project will deliver meaningful affordable housing is unconvincing. There is little evidence that the development will genuinely address housing needs for local residents or provide long term affordable accommodation for those most in need.

Secondly, the visual impact on Bennetts Beach and the surrounding landscape would be severe and irreversible. One of the defining features of this area is its natural, undeveloped coastline. At present, the section of beach north of the surf club remains remarkably unspoilt, with no visible buildings interrupting the natural environment. Allowing this project to proceed would permanently alter the character of this unique coastal setting.

I am also deeply concerned about the precedent this proposal would establish. Approval of a development of this scale and nature could open the door to further urbanisation of the area, gradually eroding the environmental and scenic values that make this region so special. This would place increasing pressure on nearby natural habitats and the adjoining National Park.

In addition, the increase in traffic, vehicle movement, and population density would inevitably impact local flora and fauna. The area currently supports sensitive ecosystems and native wildlife that are vulnerable to disturbance, pollution, noise, and habitat fragmentation. Increased human activity would place unnecessary strain on this environment.

For these reasons, I strongly oppose the proposed development and urge that the long term environmental and community value of this area be prioritised over short term development interests.

I strongly object to this development.
1. Parts of the buildings will be visible from the beach. This will destroy the pristine natural beauty of Bennetts Beach.

One of the reasons that Bennetts Beach is so special and beautiful is because of the uninterrupted natural view from the beach. You can't see any buildings from the beach (except the Surf Club - which is appropriate as it provides its important public function). Interrupting this rare and stunning view would make a lot of people (including me) very very sad. It is not easy to find places near where we all live that are simple and natural and unspoiled. Bennetts Beach is a place like that. And anyone who goes there can walk, swim , play and just be there for free. And they can see shells and waves and maybe dolphins and they can be in nature. And that is an important thing for humans to be able to do. But if this or other developments go ahead and can be seen from the beach it obliterates the pristine nature of that place. So maybe the developers and the people who stay at the apartments benefit from the development but the rest of the humans who might ever get the chance to go there will never be able to enjoy that priceless pristine natural beauty again. It will end up like so many other beaches - it will lose this very very special lovely naturalness.

2. There will be a negative impact on Flora and Fauna.
Koalas live in and around the Hawks Nest area. They are listed as an endangered species. Many other wonderful native flora and fauna inhabit this area. Building this development would involve land clearing and destruction of natural habitat for native flora and fauna which is all part of the local ecosystem and so will effect the local ecosystem. Please, please do not clear this land. It is not fair on the local plants and animals to create more habitat loss. The beautiful nature in this area is what makes it special and I would like us to value it and not destroy it.

3. What would be lost is worth far more than what might be gained.

This development will not provide more affordable housing because the apartments will be too expensive and it is very likely they will be used for short term rentals. If there is pressure to provide more housing in the area then the houses could be built somewhere less environmentally valuable. If this development goes ahead it will cause destruction of flora and fauna and destruction of the stunning uninterrupted visually pristine beach view in order to provide profit for developers and accommodation for some holidaymakers who could be accommodated somewhere else. What would be lost is worth far more than what might be gained.

I object to the height of the project. It is out of keeping with the surrounding area and it appears it will be visible from the beach. All other multi-storey development in Hawks Nest has been limited in height and approved on the basis that it won’t be visible from the beach. This is in keeping with the pristine natural environment and proximity to the Myall Lakes National Park.

If the development is reduced in height I would support it.