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Currawong Development Rejected: RAID Group Success

The State Government has blocked a development proposal to build 25 luxury houses at a site owned by Unions NSW in the national park at Pittwater and put the whole area on the State Heritage Register.

After a 12-year campaign to save the historic holiday cottages at Currawong within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park on Pittwater's western shore, the Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, revealed yesterday she had refused the application to subdivide the site to allow residential development.

Pittwater Mayor David James has welcomed the decision by the NSW Minister for Planning Kristina Keneally to refuse the development proposal for a subdivision of 25 homes at Currawong. 

“Pittwater Council is very pleased that the Minister has signalled the NSW Government’s intention to protect this historic site from inappropriate development,” the Mayor said. 

Currawong was the subject of a development proposal for 25 luxury homes by Eco Villages Pty Limited, following negotiations between the developer and the owner Unions NSW. 

The NSW Department of Planning took over the assessment of the development proposal from Pittwater Council, after it decided the site was one of state significance. 

In 2008 an independent planning assessment panel was formed by the Minister to hear submissions from the Council and the community on the development proposal. 

Following submissions from the public, including a two-day public hearing with residents’ groups and Council, the panel considered the proposal and put forward a recommendation to the Minister, who advised the Council yesterday that the development proposal would be refused. 

In refusing the development application, Minister Keneally cited ‘visual amenity, indigenous and European heritage, mainland parking and access and the method of wastewater disposal’ as key reasons. 

She was also quoted as saying that the ‘vulnerability of the proposed development on the lower lying section of the site’ to flooding was another important factor in the decision. 

The Minister has announced the NSW Department of Planning will place the whole Currawong site on the State Heritage Register.

Shane Withington President of  the  "Friends of Currawong" group said " We have been vindicated after a twelve year battle to save Currawong beach.which is clearly a very important heritage site."

Ministers Press Release

“I received the best expert advice and detailed comments from the community, I went and saw the site, and based on that I have decided to refuse the application,” Ms Keneally said.

“My decision followed thorough and considered canvassing of the facts and local community opinions, including more than a year of rigorous assessment and community consultation."

Read the full press release