I object to the planning application on the basis of the information submitted within my attachment.

To Whom it May Concern,

The proposed State Government high density residential apartments; 9 buildings up to 5 stories high to be located at 142 - 150 Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba has received disbelief and heartbreak from the local Blue Mountains community.

The select location is a significant area loved and appreciated for its natural beauty, wildlife and serenity by both tourists and locals. Visitors travel to this area in droves from Western Sydney, all parts of Australia, and many international locations to picnic, walk, enjoy the sunsets, escape the concrete jungle, relax and spend quality time together on the doorstep of a very unique World Heritage listed natural environment.

Buildings of this type are unprecedented in the Blue Mountains, and will overpower any sense of awe and wonder that beckons and transcends the tourist experience, and delights locals.

In the vicinity of the proposed development are many business dependent on the tourist dollar. Please keep in mind that a huge development of this style will drastically alter the local area, with traffic congestion, concrete and pollution.

There are many far more suitable locations for such a large scale residential development.

Most locals including myself travel at least an hour and a half to work in Sydney and Western Sydney. Do you honestly think that the proposed apartments will be sold or leased, or do you consider that they will remain empty, having destroyed a beautiful, much appreciated and loved part of the world? I am sure you are aware of the recently built neighbouring apartments that remain largely empty and unsold.

My opinion is that this development is suited to an urban environment, closer to public transport and Western Sydney.

Has the State Government considered the extreme bushfire risk in the area, being so close to the World Heritage listed National Park, and how to mitigate this when exposing a huge new population of residents to the likely disaster on their doorstep? The potential budget for disaster relief must be extraordinary?

Please consider relocating this monstrous proposal to a more suitable area.

Kind regards,

Freedom Wilson

Hello,

Hope you are well

I've attached a document containing my objections

Cheers,
Toby

As a resident of Narrow Neck Rd, Katoomba, I was shocked to read about this proposal in the BMG. No notification advising me of the proposal had been delivered to my address.
The proposal submitted for 142-150 Narrowneck is an example of highly inappropriate development.
The size of the buildings proposed does not blend into the world heritage environment.
The high density of dwellings, with associated traffic, would have a large and negative impact on the local environment.
The safety of the local water catchment area would be severely threatened.
The scale of this proposal would negatively impact wildlife populations, and increase the risks of fire.
I believe this proposal has no merit and should be 100% rejected, NOT just tweaked.

If the developers are keen to build high density housing projects, I suggest they locate these OUTSIDE the Blue Mountains National Park. High density residential developments, with “affordable” offerings, are best located close to transport hubs and jobs. The upper Blue Mountains is a minimum one hour train journey from commercial centres in western Sydney. The local unemployment rate is higher than the state average, reflecting the lack of local employment.

The proposal is not fit for purpose. Its scale and density is inconsistent with the National Park environment, and poses numerous risks to the environment. Such high density residential developments are suited to areas that offer employment opportunities, and are co-located with transport hubs. The proposal is also inconsistent with the surrounding residential character, that assimilates with the natural environment. The dominant local housing is single dwellings on blocks of land ranging from 500sqm to 2,000 sqm. Where there is increasing need for accommodation, Granny Flat structures address this need without risking urban blight from over development.

For the numerous reasons detailed above, I request that the proposal be completely rejected, and publicly dismissed as inappropriate and inconsistent with the local environment.
Sincerely,
John Walton
88 Narrowneck Rd.
Katoomba

This is an over development of a sensitive World Heritage site in a high risk bushfire area.

The project is totally inappropriate for the site. Complete lack of consideration of the Bush fire risk, with all evacuation routes subject to bushfire.

Too far from Katoomba and Public transport to address the needs of the local population.

Does not address local housing needs.

Lack of meaningful consultation with local community.

Inappropriate design for a world heritage site.

I object to the Narrow Neck Road proposal on many fronts, principally:
(a) the size and design of the development is out of character with the Katoomba suburb.
(b) I am very concerned about access for existing and new residents, given the nature of the site (on a ridge, with steep access roads).
(c) I am very concerned about a substantial and potentially dangerous risk to the development in the event of catastrophic bushfires such as we experienced in 2019-20.
(d) I am concerned about environmental harm from building run-off, as we experienced with the newest townhouses adjacent to the proposed site.
(e) I fear there is insufficient consideration given the Indigenous management of landscape, waterways etc and First Nations people's long culture and history in the area.
(f) We do need more affordable housing in the Blue Mountains. We do not need more short-term rental properties.
(g) I cannot see who will use a four-storey restaurant in this location. It gets regular blasts of very strong winds off the escarpment and is often shrouded in thick mist. This makes for dangerous driving conditions. As a local I seldom attend events at the old golf club building at the same location for these very reasons.