PM Submission - Leanne Castro - MCU25/0118

                 The site is not within walking distance of the Cooroy town centre, medical services, or core shopping needs. The
                 distances significantly exceed recommended planning guidelines, particularly for residents with disabilities, older
                 people, or families without private vehicles.
                 There is no public transport servicing the site, and the nearest bus access is extremely difficult to reach —
                 involving unformed footpaths, steep inclines, and terrain that is unsafe and inaccessible in wet weather.
                 I know firsthand that bus services in Cooroy are infrequent and unreliable. I regularly have to drive my son to
                 work because there is no dependable public transport. Expecting future tenants to rely on buses that do not run
                 regularly or safely accessible routes is unreasonable and will reduce their quality of life.
                 5. Density Is Excessive and Out of Character

                 The proposed density is significantly higher than developments approved on actual medium-density land in Kauri
                 Street. The proposal places 26 units on 3161 m² — a density that is not seen anywhere in Cooroy and is out of
                 character with surrounding detached housing.
                 This scale of development:

                     •    Sets a dangerous precedent for other hinterland towns
                     •    Adversely impacts neighbourhood amenity
                     •    Concentrates social housing rather than integrating it into the wider town as best-practice recommends
                 6. Severe Parking and Traffic Impacts

                 Cooroy already experiences serious parking shortages, and Council has no clear plan to address this. Within the
                 development, parking calculations are already below the minimum requirement, and do not account for:

                     •    Care worker vehicles
                     •    Visitors
                     •    Overflow during community room use
                     •    The reality that many tenants will own cars
                 There is no available street parking to absorb the overflow.
                 Traffic impacts on Dianella Court will be significant. This road was designed to service 28 houses — not a
                 medium-density complex. Resident safety will be compromised by increased congestion, vehicle manoeuvring
                 issues, and inadequate turning space for service and waste vehicles. These concerns have already been
                 demonstrated during remediation works.
                 7. Inadequate Landscaping and Cemetery Buffering

                 The minimal western setback and reliance on narrow screening vegetation provide neither privacy nor
                 appropriate separation between the development and cemetery operations. Landscaping constraints caused by
                 retaining walls and access paths further reduce buffering capacity.
                 8. Loss of Longstanding Community Open Space

                 Although not formally designated as parkland, this land has been used by the public for recreation for over 60
                 years. Its sudden shift to a medium-density development, without strategic planning or meaningful community
                 consultation, disregards long-standing community use and expectation.
                 9. Summary of Key Issues of Concern

                     1.   A medium-density development is being placed within a low-density neighbourhood.
                     2.   Land zoned and intended for cemetery use should retain its original purpose.
                     3.   The proposed density is excessive, inappropriate and inconsistent with Cooroy’s established character.
                     4.   The location is too far from shops, services and public transport.
                     5.   The proposal will create hardship for tenants who cannot easily access essential services.


Document Set ID: 24329345
Version: 1, Version Date: 24/11/2025