Six-storey 53-unit development proposed

A six-storey "mixed-use development" costing $11.6 million, with 53 units for permanent or tourist accommodation, has been proposed for the old Centrelink site in Ettalong.

The development application, from Abrotat Pty Ltd, is for the demolition of the former commercial building used as government offices, a childcare centre and commercial office space, to make way for the construction of a six-storey development with an effective height of 13 metres.

It will include 53 residential units and six ground floor commercial tenancies, basement car park and has been described as an "ideal urban renewal opportunity".

Nearby resident Mr Ian Morris said the only other building currently in Ettalong of matching bulk, scale and height would be the Mantra Resort.

He said he hoped the council would amend the development application to ensure the building did not become dedicated to high-turnover, short-stay tourist accommodation.

"With the mix of as many as 10 one-bedroom units and 32 two-bedoom units ... we believe this will be used by investors as short-stay accommodation and is not primarily for permanent residential use," Mr Morris said.

He said that recent opposition to a boarding house in Ferry Rd and the defeat of a DA for the redevelopment of a motel on The Esplanade in recent years demonstrated that: "It is obvious that the local residents do not want to lose the village atmosphere of Ettalong".

According to Mr Morris, there is currently no demand for additional retail space in Ettalong: "The real estate shop is a display only ... the butcher recently closed ... there are two other shops that have been vacant forever and there are five empty shops in the main street," he said.

Mr Morris said he believed other neighbouring residents would have similar reservations about the impact of the development on their amenity, loss of privacy and concerns about noise due to the use of a proposed communal swimming pool and podium level.

Four levels will be occupied by single-storey residential units and four south-facing penthouse units will have an additional storey taking the building to six storeys in part.

According to a statement of environmental effects submitted to Central Coast Council as part of the development application, the idea of making the four penthouse units two-storey was a trade-off discussed during meetings with council staff for increasing the rear setback to R1 residential zoned properties to the north.

The unit configuration is for 10 one-bedroom units, 32 with two bedrooms and 11 three-bedroom apartments.

The penthouse units 405, 408, 409 and 410 include a second storey consisting of a bedroom, wet area and a study or sitting room.

According to the statement of environmental effects: "These upper floor levels allow for access to winter sun for each of the units and provide a ventilation path for single-aspect apartments 405, 408 and 409, as well as providing exceptional views over part of Brisbane Water."

The upper level of the roof is at 19.29 metres above natural ground level for the south-facing roof plane and 19.51 metres for the steeper north-facing roof plane, representing a maximum 16.6 per cent variation on the development standard.

"We are of the opinion the proposal for exceeding the height limit is justifiable in this particular case for a number of reasons," the statement said.

"The variation has arisen due the design decision to enhance the solar access and natural ventilation requirements of the four, fourth-floor apartments nominated.

"The proposal is not an attempt to create addition apartments or to significantly increase the FSR, which is well below the allowable.

The site is on the northern side of Ocean View Rd and is zoned B2 Local Centre.

According to the Design Partner Architects report, the Ettalong town centre "is defined as a precinct undergoing transition from low-scale retail uses to medium- to high-scale mixed use buildings including leisure, tourism and accommodation uses characterised by the recently completed nine-storey Outrigger Resort, a recently-approved seven storey mixed use residential building and four storey Ettalong Beach Hotel.

"The subject land is located in a part of an area predominantly being redeveloped with new commercial and residential buildings," the report said.

"The residential component adds to the diversity of use and contributes to the changing and evolving context of the area.

"The character of this precinct is influenced by its central location within the Ettalong CBD and close proximity to key public parks and open space areas fronting extensive waterways.

"The built form is appropriate in this context," the design report concluded.

"The proposal is permissible within the zone and satisfies the relevant statutory framework for the proposed use of the land.

"On balance, the development is considered to be ecologically sustainable and in the public interest."

The proposed building has been designed to provide communal open space on its podium level deck along with a communal swimming pool and a screened clothes drying area; it will also provide a gymnasium for residents.

Commercial tenancies with street frontages are intended to occupy the ground floor units to provide opportunities for cafes and restaurants.

The zoning allows for no street setbacks.

The developer has provided a total of 85 parking spaces across the ground level and basement which exceeds council requirements by 13 spaces.

BCA Assessment, 17 Feb 2016

Boyce Built Environment Consulting

Design Quality Principles report, 6 Jun 2016

Statement of Environmental Effects, 6 Jun 2016

Design Partner Architects Pty Ltd

Website, 19 Jul 2016

Central Coast Council, Find an Application Gosford

Submission, 19 Jul 2017

Ian Morris, Ettalong

Reporter: Jackie Pearson