The Sydney South Planning Panel has deferred a decision on the proposed Heathcote Hall redevelopment and called for more information from the developer.
It was supposed to be the final decision on the controversial proposal which would see the historic 1887 mansion restored and 35 townhouses and 20 apartments built in the grounds of the 4.5 hectare estate.
More than 140 residents attended the meeting at the Sutherland Shire Council chambers this afternoon.
Residents of Heathcote East have been battling the plans for more than two years, saying that such a development should not be allowed in a residential street next to the Royal National Park.
While they are concerned about the future of Heathcote Hall, they feared the impact of the development on the community which is surrounded on three sides by the Royal National Park and has only one entrance and exit over a bridge in the case of a bushfire.
"Our primary aim in opposing this development is the safety of the residents of this community surrounded by 15,000 hectares of Royal National Park on three sides and one legitimate evacuation point, putting hundreds of people in an aged care facility , thousands of children who attend the local schools, the thousands of residents and visitors at risk, estimated to be up to 5,000 people," Barbara Koppe of the Save Heathcote East Committee told the panel.
"This development does not comply with many requirements of the NSW Rural Fire Service Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2006 and the new 2018 version soon to be gazetted," she said.
Resident Tony Slattery told the panel that the restoration of the hall is not worth the risk of life.
"The proposal was unsafe and unrealistic in a high-risk E4 zoned area with major ingress and egress concerns and where childcare centres, duplexes and dual occupancies are no longer permitted."
Mr Slattery criticised the fact the future use of a restored Heathcote Hall will be considered under a separate DA.
"There has been nil disclosure as to the proposed end use of Heathcote Hall. All the upgrade details have been savagely dedacted from the documents," he said.
"Clearly the applicant proposes a far more intense use of the Hall than is allowed under E4 zoning."
Resident Maryanne Stuart said the DA raises issues of safety, infrastructure and environmental factors.
"The well-being of the residents has not been addressed. Heathcote East is unique. Surrounded by 150,000 acres of Royal National Park, with one road access and no evacuation procedures," she said.
"Earlier this year we had a truck stuck on the bridge. This caused havoc and panic for hours. For Senior Management in the RFS to suggest residents remain in their houses/evacuate over a train line in order to accept a development application, is putting these lives at risk.
"Sydney Trains, states in contrast, the rail crossing was a risk as low vehicles may get stuck on the rails and high vehicles may get arced from the overhead wires. Then we need to find someone with the gate key."
A spokesman for the developer said the RFS has issued general terms of agreement for the DA and the developer has followed the processes and has done a traffic assessment.
But the panel listened to the residents' concerns and deferred the matter for more information particularly for further details on emergency evacuation.
The vote for deferment was 3:2 with panel members, Sutherland Shire Councillors Steve Simpson and Jack Boyd voting against any consideration of the DA, saying it was not the public interest and out of character with the East Heathcote area.
