Community group question council residential zoning across properties up for sale in Davistown
Questions surround the zoning and potential sale of privately-owned wetlands being advertised as a prime “development opportunity” in Davistown.
Central Coast
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Prime parcels of land have hit the market in Davistown calling into question how 18.7ha of wetlands can be zoned residential and potentially be sold off to cashed-up developers.
The eight separate properties are for sale with no official asking price and are being advertised as a “development opportunity” in one of the Central Coast’s “property hot spots”.
Local residents have been left bewildered by how such a unique environmental habitat — which includes green and golden bell frogs — could be zoned for potential residential construction.
Former Terrigal Labor State Election candidate Jeff Sundstrom is helping lead a community campaign to raise awareness and keep the property owner, real estate agent and Central Coast Council fully transparent.
“Save the Davo Wetlands” has established a Facebook page which has already gained over 150 followers in less than 48 hours.
“From almost every aspect this land is vital and should be protected,” Mr Sundstrom said.
“There are many questions that need to be answered.
“Central Coast Council have informed us the correct zoning of the land is in fact 7a which means it’s environmental conservation land — They can’t both be right can they?
“One of my biggest concerns is that we are left with an administrator rather than a council of community-elected representatives.”
Mr Sundstrom said the group were not “anti-development”, but if there were valid reasons to protect an environment, the group would continue to rally together to voice their concerns.
“Without development a society is worse off, not better off,” he said.
“However, development must be sensitive to and in-tune with the environment.
“We need to protect what’s worth protecting.”
The company that owns the extensive property portfolio in Davistown, Alloura Waters, is owned by the Altavilla family, a group of well-known Central Coast developers with ties to the Ettalong Beach Tourist Resort.
A spokesman for the family said the agent had already been inundated with interest from potential buyers, including some of the region’s biggest names in property development.
“It’s one of the most unique properties on the Coast at the moment,” the spokesman said.
“It’s only been on the market a couple of days, but the phone hasn’t stopped ringing.”
When questioned over the current zoning and risk of losing the wetland environment to potential development, the spokesman told the Express Advocate the issue didn’t concern them.
“We’re not the ones developing it, we’re only trying to sell it” the family representative said.
“It will be up to the new owner to go and do their due diligence with council and ask questions.
“Whoever takes it on will have to answer any questions.”
The parcels of land for sale are not owned or associated with Living Choice’s Alloura Waters retirement village in Davistown.
Central Coast Council were approached for comment and clarification around the current zoning in place for the pockets of land in question.
The council failed to provide clarification to the Express Advocate as to the current zoning for the land.
The Express Advocate also asked if council had plans to purchase the land in order to protect the wetlands — some of which have been signposted by the former Gosford City Council.
A council spokeswoman only confirmed the development application and planning processes currently in place.
“An application can be made to Council at any time for a section 149 certificate which provides information about the planning instruments and certain features that affect any particular piece of land,” the council spokeswoman said.
“Any landowner can lodge a development application with Council and it would be assessed under the planning controls for the area.
“Council encourages potential applicants to have a pre-DA meeting with Council to discuss their plans before lodging a DA.”
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