Rosny Hill development to submit fresh application

THE developer behind a $50m luxury hotel to be built atop Rosny Hill will submit a fresh application to the new-look Clarence City Council despite withdrawing their plans just weeks ago.

An artist's impression of a proposal for development of the Rosny Hill. The developers will put in a fresh submission for approval. Picture: SUPPLIED

THE developer behind a $50m luxury hotel to be built atop Rosny Hill will submit a fresh application to the new-look Clarence City Council despite withdrawing their plans just weeks ago.

Six of the 12 Clarence aldermen are new to the role or are returning after some years away.

Architect and Hunter Developments director Robert Morris-Nunn on Sunday told the Mercury no changes had been made to the application, with “proper and meaningful” conversation the next step.

Graduate Architect Tom Chandler and Architect Robert Morris-Nunn. Architect Robert Morris-Nunn will submit a fresh application to the new-look Clarence City Council for the Rosny Hill development. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“There were too many people missing from the discussion and we want to have another conversation with legal representatives, the State Government and council, so everyone is clear,” Prof Morris-Nunn said.

“We intend to explain what we want to do and why. Quite simply, this is an appropriate development which will greatly enhance the everyday public use of the area and restore the ecology of the entire hillside, which is very neglected at the moment.

“If it needs to change it will but we don’t believe it needs to and I would like to have council support as I think it’s an extremely worthwhile idea which will stand on it’s own merits.”

The Rosny Hill Nature Recreation Area is reserved land under the Nature Conservation Act but the Clarence City Council is the managing authority for the area.

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Hunter Developments had met acting Clarence City Council general manager Ian Nelson to discuss landowner consent, which was required before the application could be deemed valid.

But the proponent pulled the pin in September after concerns were raised about whether the five-star, 100-room development was consistent with the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act and said it would reapply once the council was out of caretaker mode.

Former MLC Tony Mulder, Green Beth Warren, former WIN newsreader Wendy Kennedy, fitness business owner Dean Ewington, Labor staffer Luke Edmunds and Liberal staffer Brendan Blomley are the new — or relatively new — faces to council.

Mr Blomley, chief of staff to Liberal senator David Bushby, served on the council from 2000 to 2008.

Mayor Doug Chipman, Heather Chong, Richard James, John Peers, Sharyn Von Bertouch and James Walker will return to the table.

Rosny Hill Friends Network convener Peter Edwards said he hoped council would work with locals to come up with a “new and realistic” development idea.

“We would like to congratulate the new councillors and hope they will help drive a new fresh look for Clarence and engage with the community,” Mr Edwards said.

A crowded public meeting about Rosny Hill Hotel at the Rosny Park Bowls Club. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

“The developer can be as confident as they like but I don’t think they get that a huge high-profile tourism development for the very rich does not comply with Nature Conservation legislation.

“We don’t dispute development but what is proposed would be entirely unsuitable for a small hill with a narrow roadway. A cafe/restaurant with amenities and a public viewing area would be far more appropriate.”

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said he was aware the community supported a “suitably scaled” development on the site. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Ald Chipman said he was aware the community supported a “suitably scaled” development at the site.

“I look forward to sitting down with the new council and working with them to address what developments might or might not be possible at Rosny Hill,” he said.

Ald Warren, who was the only Greens candidate elected, said she would campaign for decisions that benefited ratepayers, not big developers.

“It will be a more progressive council, which means we will be looking for appropriate but not out-of-scale development,” she said.

“The previous proposal was met with significant resistance because it was going to impact on resident’s access to recreational land and lock them out.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the other councillors collaboratively to give the residents a better return for their rates and come up with an outcome that will make everybody happy.”