Warners Bay residents up in arms over new development

BY MICHAEL COOK

A development plan for a block of units in Warners Bay has caused a stir with residents voicing concerns over a number of aspects of the proposal.

The development application, which was lodged by Elk Designs is for four blocks of 34 units on Albert Street and has residents pointing to a number of instances where the proposal breaches development control plans including height restrictions and parking quotas.

Residents aired their complaints at Monday's Lake Macquarie City Council meeting, claiming the plan will have a negative impact on traffic, parking and floodwater in the street and is an example of over-development.

Council is still to consult with a number of internal departments as well as a panel of independent experts to advise on key aspects of the development application.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser says there are a number of things to be considered at this stage of the application.

"It's in an area where Council is encouraging development.

"We would like to see residents living close to our town centres so it ticks those boxes.

"At this stage, it is still under assessment and we are processing community complaints," she said.

Warners Bay is the proposed site of a new development
Source: http://www.warnersbay.net.au/

Rethinking Parking Strategies

BY MATT JOHNSTON

Following complaints from disgruntled locals, Lake Macquarie council are looking at updating their parking strategies to cope with increasing congestion. Increasingly, commuters and shoppers are finding it harder and harder to find adequate parking in the town centres.

Mayor Kay Fraser says due to the popularity of town centres like Charlestown, Warners Bay, Toronto or Glendale "you'll find it can be difficult to get a park at times. We've had complaints from residents that many streets in Charlestown are being parked out".

"We need to have a strategy in place for how we're going to deal with parking. In Lake Macquarie, we do love our cars... so it's sort of changing the mentality but it's also providing options."

More than 1400 comments have been received so far, which has given council plenty of alternatives to explore. While paid parking is the last thing anyone wants, it's nevertheless an option that's being considered.

Other measures up for consideration include timed parking, more rangers, 'smart technology' to make things easier for drivers and rangers, as well as lobbying the state government for improved public transport systems.

"We don't have great transport out here, and that's one of the factors," says Cr Fraser. "I'll be lobbying state government to see what we can do about that. We need to have proper public transport so people do have that option."

While there's a need for "efficient and effective" public transport, one of the simpler options is also one of the easiest. "We want to make our town centres walkable and liveable, so people can enjoy their walk to the shops or to their favourite café or restaurant."

The draft strategy is currently available online, at Lake Macquarie libraries, and at council's customer service centre.

Mayor Kay Fraser