Wyong boarding house approved by Central Coast Council

A developer says it is a misconception that people in boarding houses are ex-prisoners and drug addicts. He says they’re just ordinary people on low incomes who need a roof over their heads.

A 24 room boarding house has been approved at 15 Leppington St, Wyong

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A contentious 24 room boarding house in Wyong has been given the green light by Central Coast Council.

At last night’s meeting, councillors approved the $2.4 million boarding house at 15 Leppington St. The DA was called up to council after receiving 40 objections regarding parking, safety and impacts on property values.

Wyong resident Douglas Herbert said the development was out of character with the area, which he said was already a crime hot spot following the development of another boarding house.

He said there had been “violence in the street and drunken and disorderly behaviour”.

“We understand the developer will have a manager on site but a manager does not have control over the street or the licensed premises at the end of street,” he said.

Developer Nick Karahalious, of North 62 Pty Ltd, said when he doorknocked the area, he had mixed reactions to the development.

Artists impression of the boarding house for 15 Leppington Street, Wyong

“A common theme is people need somewhere to live,” he said.

He said it was a misconception about boarding houses being filled with ex prisoners and drug addicts.

“Properly managed boarding houses should not have an effect on the area,” he said.

“These people are single mums and dads, tradespeople, couples, students and elderly people on social security and low income.

Mr Karahalious, who also owns the boarding house in Gorokan Dr at Lake Haven, said there would be a vigorous tenant selection process.

“Sometimes you will get people falling through cracks and that’s where plan of management comes into place,” he said.

The location of the approved boarding house.

“If we have a tenant unsociable and causing trouble, if drugs or alcohol are involved, we don’t want that sort of tenant. We will also have a security system in the boarding house, we expect about 10 CCTV cameras.”

He said being caught with drugs was grounds for immediate eviction.

Council’s staff report stated the development was 100 per cent compliant with council, along with State Government, regulations.

“At the moment, there’s nothing else,” Mr Karahalious said.

“If you look at registry for boarding houses there maybe is one other at Wyong. This is the whole reason we formed the Affordable Housing Strategy. Even if we built 10 tomorrow there would still be a shortage.”

Councillor Rebecca Gale Collins said “we need to cater for all people across the Central Coast and not be narrow minded”, while councillor Kyle MacGregor said it was council’s role to take on board community concerns.