Kiama Council has received a letter from the NSW Government Minister for Regional Transport and Roads advising that it will not lift the covenant on land use at Spring Creek near Bombo Quarry.
The NSW Government covenant was introduced on 4 June 1991. It is held over a Council-owned vacant parcel of land equivalent to 5 housing blocks along Glenbrook Drive at Spring Creek (Lot 26 DP 709368).
The covenant has the effect of limiting the ability to build housing on the parcels, until the quarry activities cease.
Lifting the covenant would have meant that the fully serviced lots could have been put to market and sold ready to develop for housing. The likely proceeds from the sale of the land would have assisted with Council's financial issues.
In a letter received this week from the Minister, the Hon. Sam Farraway, to Kiama Council confirms that, "as quarry operations are not scheduled to cease for a number of years… it is inappropriate to consider the release of the covenant at this time."
CEO Jane Stroud said "Whilst we respect the decision of the State not to lift the covenant at this time, it is disappointing. When considered in terms of the national, state and local dialogue of housing shortages and accommodation crisis, and the context that the business could really use the revenue, it is hard to accept that five ready to market lots must continue to sit idle."
"Especially, when I can drive there today and see houses built much closer to the quarry without generating significant nuisance complaints."
"I understand that the covenant might have been needed 31 years ago, to protect quarry operations. But surely in the last three decades there have been many improvements in how the quarry is operated, such as to minimise noise and dust, that would enable housing to occur in proximity with little or no impact on operations."
Kiama Council thanks the Department for their correspondence, and extends that thanks to Peter Poulos MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Wollongong and the Illawarra, who assisted us in getting clarity from the NSW Government on this matter.
