Eurobodalla mayor speaks on plan to ‘transform’ Batemans Bay CBD
A plan to transform a NSW south coast town’s central business district is set to be revealed to the public, with the mayor behind the proposal speaking on the “pretty big ideas”.
The South Coast News
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A recently re-elected south coast mayor has revealed plans to “completely transform” his town’s central business district with new buildings, businesses and increasing height limits, in a bid to future proof the coastal town.
Eurobodalla mayor Mathew Hatcher said his second term in the top job would be focused on finalising a plan that council had spent the past 18 months penning – the Batemans Bay CBD masterplan.
Mr Hatcher told this publication the plan – which would be revealed to the Batemans Bay community in the coming weeks – pitched ways to transform how the Bay CBD looks and functions.
“We need to look at and consider what we want our town to look like and how we want our town to be in the next 20 to 50 years,” he said.
“There’s a lot we’re looking at and proposing in the plan and it’s going to be important for everyone to have their say on our pretty big ideas.”
While Mr Hatcher could not reveal specifics of the masterplan, he said it primarily consisted of increasing building heights, more buildings in the CBD and drastically improving housing numbers through apartment blocks.
He said areas, such as the vacant block opposite the Batemans Bay Pavilions, played a “huge” part.
Several developers have put their hands up to purchase the land previously used for the Batemans Bay Bowling Club, then Transport for NSW during the new Batemans Bay bridge construction.
“A lot of these developers plans need to wait until height limits are increased,” Mr Hatcher said.
“Height limits are a very integral part of the CBD masterplan.”
Eurobodalla Council general manager, Warwick Winn, previously revealed all proposals for the block included a mix of hotel and residential options, with hotels ranging up to 200 rooms and residential units up to 350.
He said all proposal heights ranged from 30 to 70 metres, with most between 25 and 30 metres.
“From the beginning of this lengthy process, council has been determined to encourage innovative ideas for this site and achieve the best outcome for the community,” Mr Winn said.
“This is an exciting opportunity to secure the best potential for a key gateway site in Batemans Bay, and it’s not just about the commercial return for the ratepayer but other things the community holds dear, like the pressing need for affordable housing.”
Mr Hatcher said the community would soon be given their chance to have a say on the masterplan.
“We expect a draft of the plan to be made public later this month, possibly early next,” he said.
Mr Hatcher said he wanted feedback from locals and tourists.
“Once we have an approved Batemans Bay plan we can begin work on, we want to look at making plans further south in Moruya and Narooma,” he said.
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