Narooma: LFA Pacific director excited by new $1.6 million seaside apartment building

A south coast block of land left vacant since 1967 is set to be transformed into an exciting new $1.6 million apartment building with amazing views overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

A block of land left vacant for more than 60 years may soon make way for an exciting new $1.6 million apartment block overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The proposed development on Campbell Street in Narooma will host seven apartments, sits across from the town‘s cinema and is just minutes from the beach.

Director of urban design, planning and architecture firm LFA Pacific, Jason Duda, who has submitted the plans to Eurobodalla Shire Council, said the height of the proposed three-storey building has been reduced to comply with regulations after public concern.

LFA Pacific director Jason Duda said the $1.6 million apartment block is proposed for Narooma.

“It will support residential properties nearby and it’s within walking distance of the shops and the inlet,” he said.

Mr Duda said the company was expecting the project to be approved “any day now”.

“We are hoping to start construction this year but we will have to put power lines underground, which will also improve the views of nearby residents,” he said.

Mr Duda said the building would host two one-bedroom, four two-bedroom and one three-bedroom penthouse apartment.

The block of land has remained vacant. Picture: Google Maps

“The concept was to get views to as many of the apartments as possible,” Mr Duda said.

He said a mix of lightweight, coastal materials, capped with a pitched, metal roof” will mean the building will keep with the town’s “coastal character”.

He said the company was working on a number of projects with local developers on the south coast, including a block of council land at nearby Dalmeny, which was sold to a private buyer this week.

Mr Duda said the recent purchase of Narooma businesses by billionaire Justin Hemmes has brought the area to the interest of developers.

What it will look like ... The apartments will overlook the nearby inlet and the Pacific Ocean.

He said developers are now battling it out to buy rare seaside blocks on the south coast, and home buyers

“There is a lot of interest from what we are seeing,” he said.

“I think people have affiliations with where they go for holidays as well.

“People go to the places they know.”

A spokesman for Eurobodalla Council said the 40 hectare block of land behind Dalmeny’s Tatiara Street had been sold to Sydney developer Andrew Scarano.

“It’s very early days and there is a lot of planning to be done but it is my intention this will be a quality development,” Mr Scarano said.

The council’s director of planning, Lindsay Usher, said there was “significant market interest” in coastal blocks earmarked for development.

LFA Pacific director Jason Duda said he hoped construction would begin this year. Picture: LFA

“The Property Council of Australia is calling for government action to address the housing crisis. One of the few things council can do is provide appropriately zoned land for development,” he said.

“Interest in the property was extremely strong and only reinforces selling at this time.”

Mr Usher said while some residents had expressed concerns about the sale, others felt the housing market needed to expand.

“The settings are in place to ensure it will be a good development outcome,” he said.

“The land is zoned R2 – low-density residential – and the number of lots is influenced by considerations of biodiversity, landscape and heritage, provision of open space, and infrastructure such as roads and services.

“Residents views will be sought as planning and design take place, with opportunities for community input to be well advertised.”