The Beagle Editor,
On 31 March, the NSW Southern Regional Planning Panel conducted a teleconference hearing community views on council's $55+ million Development Application for the Batemans Bay Regional Arts, Aquatic and Leisure Centre including demolition of Batemans Bay’s Olympic pool. There is only one way now for residents to have a say before the panel makes its decision.
The current DA is for a single building where the pool is now but with limited facilities in size and number, no Olympic pool, no room for expansion, no Mini golf, and is likely to be unaffordable (council won’t provide the business case!) plus the shire will be left with the problematic, unsaleable old bowlo site.
If you want to have the “Gateway Development” promised in 2016, if you want to keep an Olympic pool in Batemans Bay and if you want council to follow the community’s wishes for a heated indoor pool, for the Mini Golf to be retained, for a new arts, cultural and community centre to be built using the old bowling club site with having star-act attracting performance facilities, all at an affordable price now and for generations ahead, then please make a submission during the period until 14 April – it probably will be your last chance!
A copy of submissions already made and an audio recording of the conference will be made available on the NSW Southern Regional Planning Panel’s website. While the background of Council’s DA and plans can be seen on the council’s website under “MacKay Park”; the audio, latest relevant documents and plans are available on the Planning Panels website www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/planningpanels .
Please make a written submission to the Planning Panel by contacting its Secretariat before 4pm Tuesday 14 April 2020 on 02 8217 2060 or by email to enquiry@planningpanels.nsw.gov.au.
Jeff de Jager
Coila
