Bangaloe Stud Kincumber: Plans to develop iconic site into over-50s residential community
Plans are set to be lodged to turn the iconic Bangaloe Stud into a residential community, sparking shock and concern in the Kincumber and Avoca communities.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Woman fined over new road rule few people know about
- Five-star hotel revealed for The Archibald Development Gosford
Iconic Bangaloe Stud in Kincumber has been earmarked for an over 50s lifestyle resort, causing shock and concern in the community.
Choice Living Avoca Development Pty Ltd is planning to convert the former thoroughbred breeding stud, on 24 hectares at 255 Avoca Drive, into a residential land lease community with 210 manufactured homes.
A recent letter box drop alerted residents to the proposed development and stated that a development application is being prepared for Central Coast Council.
Local residents are banding together, forming the Kincumber and Picketts Valley Community Action Group to oppose the development.
Group spokeswoman Tessa Green, of Kincumber, said while residents were not opposed to development at the rural site, they were opposed to “overdevelopment”.
The area is zoned E4 – Environmental Living, which allows for low-impact residential developments including a caravan park.
“People are really annoyed – this is not low impact,” Ms Green said. “They have the right to develop but why change acreages into 210 homes. I don’t think that’s the spirit of the zoning.”
A spokeswoman from Choice Living Avoca Development confirmed the DA for would be lodged next month with detailed planning being completed.
“The project is consistent with industry research and statistics from various Government agencies which identify a need for a greater housing choice to meet the demands of this demographic,” she said.
“The proposed development is being designed to complement the surrounding area and has been modelled on an understated yet contemporary design that respects the rural residential/environmental living setting.
“Based on the current design plan, approximately 35 per cent of the 241,597 sqm site will
be developed and approximately 65 per cent of the site will be a combination of existing natural vegetation and landscaped areas.”
Ms Green said a major concern was a potential entry site at the dangerous Avoca Dr and Melville St intersection near Brentwood Village. A construction entry point is proposed on Picketts Valley Rd.
“It will affect everybody in the area and people living on Avoca Dr,” she said.
“Avoca Drive is already under stress with traffic backed up in the mornings and afternoons. Imagine adding potentially 400 more cars to the mix.”
She said the environmental impacts would also be massive, with green corridors linking Kincumber Mountain to the site and dangers to local native species.
There are also concerns about visual amenity, water catchment and loss of value to surrounding properties.
Ms Green said the letter was only delivered to a handful of residents on a Friday afternoon with only a weeks notice for comment.
The Choice Living Avoca Development spokeswoman said 170 surrounding properties received a letter inviting them to comment on the plans.
“Those comments and those of other interested parties, are currently being assessed and alterations to the plan are occurring as a result of this consultation, ahead of DA lodgement,” she said.
“With 40 per cent of the Central Coast’s population over the age of 50 years, this development will provide a new level of housing supply of an appropriate type and scale envisaged for the future demographic of the Central Coast, and importantly will exceed market demands in its design.
“The creation of jobs during construction, after completion and for future local businesses is seen as a positive by the land owner for the Central Coast economy.”
The unique parcel of land was a successful thoroughbred breeding enterprise for more than 50 years. Former owner Danny Bourke, who owned the property for around 30 years, sold the site in 2016 for $12 million to move onto “new beginnings”
IN OTHER NEWS
