Heathcote residents have always come out when required to protect their tiny community.
The April 28 showing of the pre-DA concept plans for the Heathcote Hall Estate development demonstrated again how we turn out in huge numbers to defend our community.
This PR stunt by the unnamed developer blew up in the faces of his planning consultants, JBA.
More than 300 irate residents crammed into Club Heathcote and took control of the meeting. Many protestors, young and old, spilt out onto the roadway and into the nearby restaurant. At times it was mayhem.
The restless residents were very polite, but at times understandably loud and frustrated.
The Mayor, Carmelo Pesce, was hit from all directions about his meeting with the developer. Councillor Diedree Steinwall spoke vigorously and passionately in our defence as did quite a few of our local residents and Councillor Peter Towell of Shire Watch Independents.
Residents Against Over Development and Save Our Suburb were politely and single-mindedly vocal. But calls for local Heathcote MP Lee Evans to speak went unheeded.
We have asked Bruce Walton, another D Ward councillor, to give his opinion on the matter. This is one of the most contentious developments in the history of the shire.
Heathcote is the oldest suburb in the shire and Heathcote Hall (pictured), built in 1887, is our most significant and second oldest building.
We know the proposed development is out of character for the area and is a monstrosity with a line of flats five stories high planned, along with other medium to high density housing.
The community spoke in unison about its commitment to prevent such a development going ahead. The community will present its case to the state government’s Joint Regional Planning Panel.
Right now, we residents want to know who the developer is. Why the secrecy? The longer the name remains secret, the more suspicious the community is entitled to become.
The community is preparing itself. We are watching, researching and talking. And we are ready for yet another challenge and fight.
- Patrick Kennedy is the author of From Bottle Forest to Heathcote – the Sutherland Shire’s First Settlement and member of Residents Against Over Development.
