A decision to refer a proposed 685 lot housing development at Broulee to the State Planning Department has been delayed after hours of debate.
An amended motion from Eurobodalla Shire Councillor Phil Constable to defer a decision subject to a review of the proposal was supported unanimously following a number of presentations to the meeting yesterday by local community members for and against the plan.
Broulee resident Ross Hayward has lived in the suburb for 50 years. He told the meeting the plan is not ready for the planning department to consider because it lacks a lot of detail.
“They’ll do a lot of work on it then it comes back to council and that’s supposedly the only time that the public are able to have an input,” Mr Hayward said.
“Surely you’d want to gather all the information you could at stage one now, which involves the community input,” he said.
“Basically what it’s saying is the community know nothing so we’re not going to listen to them now.”
Former councillor David Grace said the plan is ‘over-development’ for the suburb.
“This is 685 new dwellings. That will be an increase in population by about 1600,” Mr Grace said.
“That’s almost double what the population of Broulee is at the minute,” he said.
“This will have a major impact on the infrastructure above the Broulee Mossy Point and Tomakin communities.”
A lifelong Eurobodalla resident said she is supporting the development at Broulee so she has somewhere to retire.
Hazel Green told the meeting she’ll be forced to move away if this development doesn’t go ahead.
“This proposal offers an inviting mix of home types with ease of access to services and facilities,” Mrs Green said.
“For many reasons I strongly support the Broulee Rd proposal and for the many people like me and for the young families who need homes,” she said.
“I’m asking you, our elected representatives to support this proposal.”
A former Eurobodalla Shire Council candidate told the meeting the plan could be a model that can be used for future developments in the region.
Claire MCash said it’s a ‘win-win’ for the community.
“I don’t believe we have to choose between providing homes for people and protecting our natural environment,” Ms MCash said.
“I believe we can do both and that’s what excites me about 207 Broulee Rd,” she said.
“We’re talking about a community. I love that the word village has been used with different housing options.”
Council staff now has three months to produce the report requested by councillors before it comes back for a vote.
It is not the first time a proposal for the Broulee site has come to council for approval with a previous version rejected in February 2024.
