Collingwood St, Coffs Harbour murder block to become luxury units
Take a sneak peek at the luxury six-storey apartment block at a prime harbourside site where a squatter in a derelict house was once murdered during a drug dispute.
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A luxury six-storey apartment block has been approved at a notorious Jetty block where a squatter was once murdered during a drug dispute.
The block on the corner of Collingwood and Edgar Streets, Coffs Harbour, is just a stone’s throw from the ocean and in the heart of the sought-after jetty precinct.
The area has been described as one of the most idyllic locations on the NSW Mid North Coast, and is set to be transformed in coming years with a number of major projects under way – including a $20m seven-storey apartment building on the corner of Orlando and Collingwood streets.
There are many more in the pipeline.
The NSW Government also has its eyes on prime land in the area, with consultation on the Jetty Foreshore Revitalisation project leading to conflict with City of Coffs Harbour City Council.
For years, a block has sat overgrown with a derelict house at 47 Collingwood Street, a reminder of the brutal murder of a man who had been squatting there.
This week the council voted to approve the new apartment block on the site and the demolition of the two existing structures.
The building height of 20.9m will exceed the 19m building height control by 10% but council staff recommended approving it anyway.
“It is considered that there are sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify contravening the development standard, most notably being the built form is consistent with the desired built form in the zone and the building does not create any additional solar access or privacy concerns due to the additional height,” a report before the council said.
Trio armed with mattock handle, hammer and fishing rod
In 2012, a trivial dispute over drugs escalated into the vicious murder of 50-year-old Dennis Burns outside the property at 47 Collingwood Street, at the hands of James Moore, his mother Michelle Moore and her partner Brendan Price.
Mr Burns, who was squatting at the property, had disputed the price of marijuana Mr Moore bought for him and the pair engaged in a series of angry exchanges via text message.
After Mr Moore’s mother and her partner became involved, the three of them pulled up at the Collingwood St address armed with a mattock handle, a hammer and a fishing rod.
Mr Burns appeared outside the property armed with two knives.
Ms Moore struck him on the head with a hammer in an ensuing fight, before her son delivered a further series of blows with the mattock handle.
Mr Burns later died at John Hunter Hospital.
In 2014, Mr Moore was found guilty of murder in the Supreme Court and sentenced to at least 18 years in jail.
He lost an appeal to have his sentence overturned in 2016.
In 2015, Michelle Moore and Brendan Price were also convicted of murder, with Ms Moore sentenced to spend at least 15 years behind bars and Mr Price to do 12 years.
Danger to the public
In 2018, a concerned local, Jim Thacker, spoke out about how the building posed a danger to the public and said kids often frequented the property, playing among broken asbestos sheeting.
His numerous letters to council, urging them to do something about the site, had not led to changes and, at the time, Coffs Harbour City Council said it had sent multiple orders to the owner to take action.
However, the council was reluctant to apply for a court order to have the building demolished or fenced off.
New life for prime block
Offered as one parcel of land, Australian developers have now snapped up 45 to 47 Collingwood Street and 15 Edgar Street and plans approved through City of Coffs Harbour council.
The apartment block will house 35 units – many with sweeping ocean views – with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Plans include a commercial tenancy and 50 carparking spaces.
The cost of the development is estimated to be $11.3m.
“The proposed development will also provide an opportunity for employment in the commercial tenancies and contribute to the activation of the street front,” council documents said.
“It is considered that this proposal will have a positive social outcome in the area.”
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