By the time this letter is printed in the Leader, Kogarah councillors will have voted on whether to allow high rise development on the Blakehurst waterfront which was previously zoned as a Foreshore Protection Area.
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I have previously discussed all the many disadvantages of this plan such as increased traffic flow into an already overcrowded Princes Highway with the tendency to cause more accidents, greater pollution from many more cars, over development, lack of infrastructure, not near a train station and too difficult for seniors to cross the road to go to Kogarah or Hurstville stations, long shadows being cast across the highway etc.
Most of us are seniors who have bought or built here to enjoy our retirement with the beautiful water views over the Georges River and Captain Cook bridge.
If these developments go ahead our land values will decrease enormously.
By voting for this plan the councillors would be falling into the hands of the owners of the properties on the waterfront who are the only residents in favour of the plan as they stand to gain hundreds of thousands of dollars by selling in a bulk lot to developers, who are the real benefactors of all this.
At present the proposed height is 21 metres. Some of the residents are requesting that this be increased to 33 metres. The higher council permits this the more money the developers give them as they could build many more apartments. We feel that the permitted height should not be any higher than that of the existing homes which I think is 6 metres – then the beauty of the landscape would not be affected.
If the plan is passed the Blakehurst foreshore will become a concrete jungle. Passers by will no longer be able to enjoy the scenery as all they will see is one apartment after another.
If the councillors approve this plan as it exists I don’t know how they could sleep at night time knowing that they will have created this nightmare. It is time for councillors to think about the residents & the general public who appreciate this area.
We realise the state government has told council to increase the housing density in Kogarah but surely it does not have to be done at the expense of the Blakehurst waterfront.
Dr Eric Solo, Blakehurst
