The August 25 meeting of Port Stephens Council will be remembered for many things - a possible record of nine public access speakers, a very late (near 10pm) finish time and (a rare) agreement between perennial adversaries councillors Giacomo Arnott and Ken Jordon.
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Following two hours of public access, the ordinary meeting opened with three of the most contentious issues on the agenda - a development application (DA) for the construction of shop-top housing and detached dwelling at 26 King Street, Raymond Terrace; the deferred DA for a camping ground at 47 The Buckets Way, Twelve Mile Creek; and planning proposal for 610 Seaham Road, Nelsons Plains.
Voting on the controversial items was often split as the councillors - missing Steve Tucker, Chris Doohan and Paul Le Mottee - cast amendments and foreshadowed amendments knowing they only required four votes to get them across the line.
In fact, it was a 4-3 split which approved a planning proposal for a Gateway determination to enable the rezoning of the property at 610 Seaham Road from RU1 Primary Production to R5 Large Lot Residential and change the minimum lot size requirement for subdivision from 40 hectares to 8,000sqm, "creating approximately 38 rural residential lots".
West ward councillors Jordon and Arnott, with support from east ward's John Nell, argued to have the matter deferred for a site inspection, but failed. However, a recission motion signed by the trio, in addition to Cr Tucker, after the council meeting will see the application returned to the next meeting of council.
Cr Jordon said he was amazed to hear that there had been no consultation [in relation to the proposed residential development] with neighbouring farmers.
"In the eyes of the community they think we're [council] trying to sneak it through," he said.
Cr Arnott said that the proposed development would "completely change the character of the area" and cause all kinds of issues to local farmers.
"This could impact on the rural communities for decades to come," he said.
Those voting in favour of the planning proposal argued that the DA was being progressed through the correct channels and that the community would get their opportunity to comment in due course.
The debate among councillors was equally as intense on the [deferred] Twleve Mile Creek camping grounds DA, where the applicant had applied for 50 camp sites along with amenities and kitchen on The Buckets Way.
After much discussion, councillors resolved that no more than 25 caravans be permitted on site at any one time and that "a caravan is not to stay onsite for any longer than four consecutive nights". Other conditions covering animals on site, landscaping and litter management were also adopted.
The last of the DAs related to the demolition of a single storey commercial structure and construction of shop-top housing (two commercial units on the ground floor and two residential units above) at 26 King Street, Raymond Terrace.
Council planners had recommended refusal, but the matter was deferred by councillors to return to a future council meeting.
