PLANS for 1000 to 2000 homes and a large shopping centre on the Kurnell peninsula are still alive despite the state government refusing to allow the assessment to be fast-tracked.
Direct talks between the land owners, Sutherland Shire Council and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure will determine the future of the former sandmining sites.
The independent review of the shire's draft Local Environmental Plan (LEP) found the council's decision to exclude the sites from that framework to allow for a negotiated outcome was "appropriate".
The report said that given the owners want the land to be deferred from the draft LEP and development of the land was controversial, "leaving the matter for later consideration, without the need to delay the making of the draft LEP, is consistent with good planning practice".
The Department of Planning and Infrastructure rejected an application in May by the principal land owner, Besmaw, for a pre-Gateway review bypassing the council.
The Besmaw land and adjoining Breen Property owned last is zoned under a special state environmental planning policy (SEPP) produced in 1989, which allows tourism (including resorts and condominiums), recreation and industrial park uses.
Sydney Airport and the federal Department of Infrastructure told the independent review the land should not be zoned for housing because it was under a flight path.
A Besmaw spokeswoman said its proposal sought to amend the SEPP "to translate the existing planning provisions into equivalent LEP template zones and provisions".
"In addition, the planning proposal sought to introduce additional housing types to those currently permitted today," she said. "The department, in deciding not to forward the application for a pre-Gateway review, acknowledged that the site presents an opportunity to strategically consider future uses and how they will contribute to the peninsula as a whole."
She said the department thought it was "premature to consider the site in isolation".
PRESSING AHEAD
Breen Property chief executive Tom Breen said the company would ‘‘continue to initiate dialogue with council, the state government, relevant adjacent land owners and the public in an endeavour to reach a practical and holistic planning outcome for these extensive land parcels’’.
Mr Breen said the voluntary planning agreement for development at Greenhills Beach, which included extensive new parkland and sporting facilities, was an example of ‘‘positive outcomes that can be achieved through collaboration’’.
How do you see the future of the Kurnell peninsula?
