$11.4m apartment proposed for Beach Rd, Batemans Bay

Residents are expressing trepidation at the increasing number of apartment blocks being developed in the south coast, but some are supporting the changing skyscape. Have your say in our poll.

An artist impression of the proposed four-storey apartment.

South coast residents are fearful their beachside town could become a “concrete jungle” in the wake of a proposal to build another multimillion-dollar apartment block.

A proposal for an $11.4 million, four-storey block with 28 units on Beach Rd, Batemans Bay, has been submitted.

The same strip recently saw the six-storey Ohana apartment completed, with another five-storey building nearing its construction phase.

If approved, the proposed block would be the third on the road within three years, leading some residents to raise concerns about over-development in the region.

“I understand the need for development, but at some point, enough is enough,” long-time resident Alice Davis said.

An artist impression of the proposed four-storey apartment.

“These buildings just keep popping up, and I’m afraid our little town is going to become just another concrete jungle.”

Another Batemans Bay resident, Marcus Hayes, agreed, saying he moved to the south coast to escape cities.

“Development isn’t terrible, but I wouldn’t like to see the town become a city,” he said.

While there has been trepidation behind the rapid growth of Batemans Bay, some are welcoming the increase in developments, arguing they bring much needed housing to the area.

“I think it’s great,” LJ Hooker Realtor Karen Herrick said.

“It’s nice to have developers coming in from other areas, it’s bringing a new category of buyers to the area we haven’t had before.”

Mrs Herrick said it was only natural due to the way the area was growing.

“We genuinely need it and it’s great to see more and more popping up in the right areas,” she said.

Karen Herrick from LJ Hooker, Malua Bay.

“We have had units and flats and so on, but this is the first time we’ve had apartment buildings of this height being built and it’s great.”

It’s a change the growing town needs, former Eurobodalla Shire Mayor, Neil Mumme said, who recently submitted a separate development application for another multimillion-dollar apartment building in the Batemans Bay CBD.

“It makes sense to redevelop old houses from the 1960s into larger complexes which can house, frankly, hundreds of people,” Mr Mumme said.

Former Eurobodalla Shire Mayor, Neil Mumme.

The $11.4 million apartment is currently sitting with Eurobodalla Shire Council after Cornerstone Construction submitted the application late last year.

A spokesman for the developers said the south coast was growing and needed more apartments such as the proposal.

“It’s a growing area and developers will continue to build apartments in an area where housing is needed,” they said.