This project will only add congestion to a highly bush fire prone area. It also does nothing to support the residents already in the area who are in need of affordable housing. The proposed project is unsafe for the area. This is especially relevant in a community with already outdated and struggling resources such as a lack of available GP’s.

To whom it may concern,
The planed proposal for narrow neck road, of an atrocious five storey building complex aimed to blind side the community with its attempts to smooth over this build with its promises as "affordable housing" and the solution to our nation's on going housing crises is the ultimate slap in the face to this community, all blue mountains residents value above all is the blue Mountains natural bush land and village appeal and its community atmosphere Witch is brought together by what God has naturally created.
Your proposal is not only an insult to everyone in the community but a blante disrespect for what we the locals love and cherish our BUSH LAND i dont mind a two stored village as long as it fits in with the community aesthetic i.e. not another Glenmore park.
New buildings need to blend in with its surroundings and not be an eyesore for the locals and those that love the mountains and for tourists to not be gobsmacked by the poor choice and poor planing like the proposal thats been submitted.
I lOVE the blue Mountains its my home please dont ruin it.
Yours sincerely
Esme Faith
Born and bred blue mountains local of 30yrs

This project plan does not align with the values of the Blue Mountains community and poses a risk to the rare way of life agreed upon and hard fought to protect and preserve by majority of Blue Mountains locals.

Submission to oppose the development proposal for 142-150 Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba
I lived have lived in Springwood for roughly 30 years . I moved to the Blue Mountains for my health and have loved living here.
I oppose this development being built in a bush fire prone area and this will further increase the fire danger risk with the extra people.
This site is zoned R3 which is composed of buildings approximately 8 meters high under the Local Blue Mountains Environment Plan.
The developer is hoping to rezone this area to allow high density development.
They are using the HAD to bypass the local area building regulations in the Blue Mountains.
There is a danger that the existing narrow local transport routes to the highway will not cope with the extra traffic, especially when a fire occurs.
There are threatened habitats near to the proposed development. Blue Mountain Swamps are threatened ecological systems which support highly endangered plants and insects, such as the Giant Dragonfly.
They also feed the Katoomba Falls and the endangered Blue Mountains Dwarf Pine.
This could also lead to pollution of this site and the surrounding area.
It would ruin the view for the Katoomba residents and tourists.
Our Council and our local developmental building laws have been ignored and this is outrageous.
Robin Murray
Unit 68/ Bucklands Retirement Village, 39 Hawkesbury Rd Springwood NSW 2777

I support housing developments that are consistent with local planning controls and the Blue Mountains LEP. However, this proposal raises serious concerns and risks establishing a precedent that could negatively shape the future of the region.

The key issues include:
• Unsuitable planning pathway – The use of the HDA process effectively bypasses key protections within the LEP, which have been carefully developed over the past three decades to preserve the Mountains’ environmental and heritage values.
• Bushfire risk – Introducing high-density, multi-storey housing in an already bushfire-prone area increases evacuation complexity and heightens risks to residents.
• Environmental impacts – The replacement of permeable land with hard surfaces will increase stormwater runoff and disrupt local ecosystems, weakening the environmental integrity that supports the area’s World Heritage status.
• Erosion of local character – The construction of dense, multi-storey buildings would significantly alter the established leafy streetscapes and heritage qualities that define the Blue Mountains.
• Economic implications – The region’s economy is closely tied to tourism, which depends on its natural landscape and village atmosphere. Degradation of these qualities risks undermining this economic base.
This issue extends beyond a single proposal. Allowing the HDA pathway in the Blue Mountains could set a precedent for similar high-density developments across the region, potentially resulting in long-term and irreversible change.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find attached my formal objection to this proposed development.

With regards,

Jon Dee

Hello, I am a resident of Katoomba. I am firmly OPPOSED to the Narrowneck Road development project. Given that there is nothing stipulating that short-term accommodation will not be allowed (similar to airbnb etc), this development will NOT help solve the housing crisis in the upper mountains; if anything, it will lead to increased local prices, which will make things worse for struggling families. Moreover, Katoomba is in a national park. Any clearing of native trees for development projects should not be allowed. I believe this is a blatant money grab being pushed through by greedy private interests that have somehow convinced the (likely corrupt) state government to jump on board. We residents in the Blue Mountains are NOT okay with this project. Please cease and desist; take your greedy moneygrabbing plans out of our National Park. Thank you. Sincerely, David Post, resident of Katoomba (Rupert Street)

The Submission for residential flat buildings at 142-150 Narrowneck Rd, Katoomba is deeply unsuitable on a number of grounds:

1) Fire vulnerability: Narrowneck Rd is a narrow two-lane rd that is one of only two exit/entry ways into Katoomba from the Great Western Highway. Its Western side is only metres away from the West facing Escarpment, the most common approach of fires. As evidenced during the 2019 fires, once a fire starts in that vicinity the road is immediately filled with fire engines, making exit for residential vehicles only possible via the town centre, which is congested virtually every day anyway. The addition of such a large body of new residents would make escape by car impossible.

2) Overdevelopment: Continuing the fire scenario, there are already 40 new residences being built in the immediate vicinty on the new "Silvertop Boulevard" which comes off Stuarts rd and another 28 on the ressurected estate on the corner of Narrowneck rd and Stuarts Rd.
That is nearly 70 new residences ( and cars) already being inserted into this dangerous area., even without this disastrous proposal.

3) Insufficient transport: there is only one bus service operating near the proposed site and the walk into Katoomba CBD is at least 2 kilometres up and down steep hills. Consequently all residents and visitors will be using cars.

4) Inappropriate Height: The height of the proposed development will make it the most prominently visible object in Katoomba, thus disturbing the visual urban landscape.

5) Lack of Suitability; the housing crisis in the Blue Mountains calls for more affordable housing, not tourist accommodation. 15% is not sufficient to address the need here, particularly as that may be revoked after 15 years and revert back to market prices. This does not in any way address the real need here.

I implore you to deny this application as it is patently unsuitable on so many grounds.

Thank you

This project is inappropriate for the beautiful Blue Mountains due to the following reasons:
1. Inappropriate planning pathway - The HDA process overrides critical LEP protections that have been developed over 30 years to safeguard the Mountains’ environment and heritage.
2. Bushfire risk - High-density, multi-storey housing in an already high-risk bushfire zone increases evacuation challenges and puts lives at risk.
3. Environmental damage - Paving over pervious surfaces, increasing stormwater runoff and disrupts ecosystems, undermining the ecological values that underpin our World Heritage listing.
4. Loss of character - Dense, multi-storey blocks would irreversibly change the leafy character streetscapes and heritage character that make the Blue Mountains unique.
5. Economic consequences - Tourism relies on our natural environment and village character. If these are eroded, so too is the foundation of our local economy.
Please stop this development in its tracks.
Yours sincerely,
Penny