Do not develop Stocklands Nowra site (anti DA21/2032]

Submission 

Re Development Application 21/2032

 We, the undersigned, are extremely concerned about the proposed relocation of the Centrelink office from its current location on Lawrence Avenue in Nowra to in the grounds of Stocklands Nowra at 32 East Street, close to residential dwellings and Morton Parade.

We cannot see the logic in this move.

This development is for a new bespoke Centrelink office which would be located at the bottom of our peaceful street.

On this street are located many elderly and fragile persons who I believe would be negatively impacted by this development in several ways.

The additional traffic both by foot and by vehicle would create undue noise and disturbance to the residents.

The narrow nature of the street and the lack of kerbing and guttering causes congestion and interferes with the otherwise quiet nature of the street. This is currently disrupted during the festive season and other holidays as people try to gain access to Stocklands shopping centre and park illegally on this cul de sac. Because of the lack of foot paths, people walk on the roadway, there are a number of people on this street with disabilities due to age or other reasons, who have had injuries or “close calls” due to irresponsible travel at speed on this narrow road. This combined with the poor state of the road, with its many pot holes and crumbling edges, is a recipe for calamity.

The nature of the people attracted to the Centrelink office would bring minor vandalism, thefts and other undesirable events to this otherwise overlooked street, there are already many instances of trolleys being discarded on the street and dumped on peoples yards, rubbish and other litter being dumped on the street and in yards, additional noise and “yahoos” traveling up this street, and this increased with the establishment of McDonalds across the street, one can only imagine how this extra traffic would impact the residents and the environment.

There is also a narrow shared road at the top end of Morton Parade, that currently has people parking for prolonged periods on the grass verges, this activity would only increase as people attempt access to the shops or proposed Centrelink office.

The Stocklands carpark already reaches capacity over festive periods and other holidays, and with the added popularity of Nowra and it’s increasing population, combined with better access due to road improvements, would see the spill over in our street, impacting all residents.

Although there is a small sign on the corner of Plunkett Street and Morton Parade stating that there is no vehicular access to Stocklands shops, many cars still travel up and down this street in order to access the shops, most lazily park on the street to avoid the extra traveling in order to access the car park, which leads to congestion.

I do not believe that locating the new/proposed Centrelink office in this area would be beneficial to customers of Stocklands, Centrelink or this and surrounding streets.

Although council currently “monitors” illegal parking in and along Morton Parade, it would need to significantly increase it’s manpower in order to keep on top of the situation, which I believe would be not viable as a long term solution as it is currently sorely lacking.

We the above declare that we have not made any reportable political donations (being $1,000 or more) or gifts made in the previous two years and up to determination of the planning application. This includes donations or gifts made by an associate. 

We also allow full disclosure of this submission to any and all persons.

Ian James    Contact the author of the petition