Residents in South Coast town recoil at out-of-towner developers putting ‘peace and quiet under threat’
A Sydney property developer has proposed four swanky bayside holiday homes for the South Coast town of Kiama, however, many locals are far from impressed.
Illawarra Star
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A collection of Kiama Heights residents are furious at a proposal to build four four-storey (two above ground level) terraced holiday homes on the doorstep of Loves Bay and the iconic Kiama Coastal Walk.
The application put forward by Forte Sydney Property Group for the cul-de-sac site at 4-6 Elanora Rd, Kiama Heights, described the proposed development as resembling a leaf and drawing inspiration from French artist Henri Matisse.
The build would cost in the region of $4.3 million according to the developer and it would consist of off-road parking and each unit would include two bedrooms with ensuites, a pool, a spa and open-planned living spaces.
Kiama Heights resident Karen Woodward expressed her dismay, with the proposal being labelled as residential housing while being promoted as holiday homes on Forte’s website.
The application comes in the midst of a housing crisis in the South Coast town, she said, with median house prices rising by more than 40 per cent in the past 12 months according to CoreLogic data.
Ms Woodward also voiced concerns over further parking congestion at the start of the coastal walking track, widely regarded as one of the main tourist attractions in the town.
Twenty people have submitted feedback to Kiama Council with the points put forward by Ms Woodward often repeated as well as the Matissian design not fitting in with the aesthetic of the suburb.
Alison Elliot described the proposal as “totally out of character” with the area and believed it would ”generate a range of traffic and parking problems”.
Ben Wong said the Airbnbification has put the “peace and quiet in Kiama Heights under threat” adding ”The price is far too much for Kiama to pay for the benefit of a few and the greed of the developer”.
Laura Brooks asked “When is the line drawn” while arguing developments like this would ”ruin the landscape and coastal charm”.
There were a few positive comments about the development on the Kiama Community Page Facebook group, however, with Donna Marsay commenting “Can’t fight progress. I personally like it and have seen far worse in Kiama”.
“Omg that’s a super sexy architectural design congratulations to the team I want this on my block at Bombo,” commented Kellie Knox, while Patsy Daley said ”At last an architect is thinking literally ‘out of the boxes’ that are being plonked in Kiama”.
The application is on exhibition with Kiama Council until Wednesday, July 27.
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