Lisarow R.A.I.D.
We are a dedicated group of local residents opposing inappropriate development in MacDonalds Road Lisarow.
Recently two Development Applications (DA) have been lodged by the Exclusive Brethren group to build a massive meeting hall for 800 people. As a application for sub division of the site is still being assessed by Council there are 2 DAs for the proposed meeting hall, one for if the sub division is approved, and one for if the sub division is rejected. The building, without counting the bus awning, is approximately 33 meters wide and 56 metres long (as long as half the length of a football field).
There will be a 500% addition of vehicles and humans impacting on the valley. The proposed car park is the size of a shopping centre car park with over 122 places for cars plus buses. It is to be built right beside a conservation zone creek that floods. This development would have more than 42 toilets and many urinals. It is stated that treated human waste will be irrigated onto the land.
This development is to operate every day. Hours of operation listed in the DA submitted are: Saturday and Sunday 6am to 8.15pm, and Mondays to Fridays 8am to 9.15pm overall. We are appalled as this will destroy the character, amenity and environment of the valley. It will impinge on the wildlife corridor along the creek. It will adversely affect all Lisarow and surrounding areas in terms of traffic, the scenic value, and run off in a flood prone area.
Lisarow Raid is urgently seeking support as objections to council must be received by council before the close of business Friday, 26 March 2010. As there are 2 DAs for the development an objection for each must be lodged. Submissions to the council must clearly state the reasons for your objections.
Objections can be submitted via letter or email to council. Please fill in both petitions as there are 2 separate development applications for the meeting hall on this site, and council requires a separate objection for each development application.
The Council email address for submissions is: da.submissions@gosford.nsw.gov.au
The postal address is: The General Manager, Gosford City Council. PO Box 21, Gosford NSW 2250.
The development application numbers for each of the DA's are:
If you are unable to lodge the above form of objection please, lodge your opinion on the objection box on the council website. To so this go to: www.gosford.nsw.gov.au and click on 'items on exhibit', then 'current advertised and determined development application enquiry'. Click on 'advertised DAs' and choose Lisarow. Choose both the DAs related to the 131 and 147 MacDonalds Road and click on 'make a comment' (right side of screen). If you are unable to do this perhaps you could you fill in the petition on this website. Whilst the petitions are not as effective, they are still valuable and may make the difference to the outcome.
Our Aim
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To prevent an increase in traffic and associated problems to the Lisarow, Ourimbah & Holgate area.
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To avoid an increase in runoff to Bangalow Creek with associated pollution and flooding to roads and properties adjacent to the creek, including Lisarow Primary school.
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To avoid the status and nature of the Lisarow area being changed
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To protect the extensive wildlife in the area
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To preserve an area of scenic beauty for future generations
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To ensure the character of the valley is not compromised
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To defeat the DA which will impact enormously on our social, physical, and psychological environment and well being.
Lisarow R.A.I.D. is not in favour of the EB development. MacDonalds Road is a narrow, winding road that is already heavily used by people travelling over The Ridgeway from Erina to the Pacific Highway, Lisarow. Our part of this small valley is a quiet, scenic, rural area with a country lane running through it. Our valley boasts 2 creeks which join to become Bangalow Creek and is home to diverse flora and fauna species. Lisarow R.A.I.D. wants to see the peaceful and beautiful nature of this valley remain unspoilt, and traffic levels on this narrow and winding road kept to a minimum.
Lisarow Raid does not have an issue with the belief of any group of people. We are not a group opposed to anyone's legally entitled beliefs. Our site is related to inappropriateness of the proposed development.
It is our view a structure of this size, with associated traffic and human waste, etc should be in an area where there IS a proper sewage system; town water; properly formed streets that can support large traffic flows; public transport; footpaths; street lighting; similar size structures; etc. NOT in an area without any of these facilities and where the long term residents and the local community do NOT want these facilities, nor have their rate money used to pay for them.
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Proposed Plan Map
Several Aerial views can be chosen by selecting the text tabs below. Close zoom maps show detailed proposed plans for our valley. The Far zoom maps show where our valley is with respect to the Pacific Hwy.
Links to Google Maps can be found by clicking here. |
Close Zoom with Boundaries + Roads |
Close Zoom without Boundaries |
Far View with Roads |
Far View without Roads |
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11/06/2010 |
NEW: Praise for Community Submissions and Update on Brethren Land Acquisition:
Many thanks to those who sent submissions to Council objecting to the meeting hall development. Over 200 submissions, for and against, were received by Council. Council is presently reviewing the development applications and the submissions.
We expect it will be a while before we have any news on the outcome due to the complexity of the town planning issues, and the number of submissions. We will post news as soon as it becomes available.
Meanwhile, The Exclusive Brethren have purchased their 5th property in the vicinity of the proposed meeting hall.
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31/03/2010 |
PAST: Updated Newpaper and Media Activity:
Please click the thumbnails for an enlarged image.
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27/03/2010 |
PAST: Extension for DA Objections:
We have an extension for objections to be submitted to Council regarding the meeting hall development applications. Objections must now be into council by the 9th of April 2010.
The verdict on the previous application to subdivide the land into 6 blocks has been determined by the Council. We applaud Gosford City Council for their decision to reject the subdivision of block. We still however need to submit the two objections, one for each DA, regarding the meeting hall as the applicant has a right of appeal over the subdivision decision.
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24/02/2010 |
PAST: MASSIVE BUILDING PLAN SUBMITTED BY THE EXCLUSIVE BRETHREN:
Our previous fears have been realized by the submission for the building of a massive 800 seat meeting hall in Lisarow. Two DAs have been lodged, the second is to be used if a previously submitted DA for subdivision for the site is rejected.
The structure is approximately 53 metres long and about 30 meters wide (not including the awning) vastly larger than anything else in the vicinity. It is a tall building with circular tiered seating for 800 people. It is windowless and looks very much like an industrial building. There are 42 toilets and many urinals. It is stated that treated human waste will be irrigated onto the land. Alarmingly the car park is approximately the size of Lisarow Plaza Shopping Centre car park.It accommodates 109 cars plus buses.
Residents are appalled as this will destroy the character, amenity and environment of the valley. It will impinge on the wildlife corridor along the creek. It will adversely affect all Lisarow and surrounding areas in terms of traffic, the scenic value, and run off in a flood prone area. All for a hall the general public is forbidden to use.
The DA's have been attached below for public viewing:
RAID will fight this with all we can and will keep the website updated as details emerge. |
23/02/2010 |
PAST: New Zoning Plan for Gosford City Council:
Under the new zoning plan for Gosford City (Gosford draft LEP), meeting halls and places of public worship are not permitted on the site of the proposed development as it is E3 zoning. It is also worth noting the older 7c (2) and 7(a) zones also prohibit meeting halls.
In the present DA's submitted to Gosford City Council the DA is titled "Place of Public Worship" but in the same submission all plans are titled, "Proposed Meeting Hall". In a Queensland Supreme Court ( Court of Appeals) finding 14 December 2005, the Supreme Court supported Brisbane Council when the council refused to accept that the meeting halls of The Exclusive Brethren are places of PUBLIC worship.
A quote from the conclusion and orders from the court declared, " 'Public worship' in the present rating context requires that the worship is in a place OPEN TO ALL properly disposed persons who wish to be present without vetting by a gatekeeper." We believe that both zonings therefore deny the right of development in our case. |
22/02/2010 |
PAST: Brethren land take-over:
Exclusive Brethren members now own three houses across from the meeting hall. |
19/12/2009 |
PAST: Subdivision process:
LisarowRAID are watching with interest the subdivision process with council but no decision or actions have been made yet. |
23/05/2009 |
PAST: Application for extention approved:
Gosford City Council approved the application for extensions to the house diagonally opposite the meeting hall. Raid was able to express their concerns at the site inspection and Council meeting. Approval was given with the following provisions: the residence be used solely for private residential use and every tree removed was to be replaced by two native trees.
The newspaper article link is: Express Advocate, Friday May 15th |
8/04/2009 |
PAST: Updated Media Links & Current New Items: Links have been provided for the latest and current news items generated by our local media. Please click the thumbnail to enlarge the newspaper article or click the hyperlinks to follow information to the source websites.
NBN TV - Exclusive Brethren Lodge DA |
29/03/2009 |
ACTIVE: Brethren Submit New Development Application:
The Exclusive Brethren have applied to council for permission to subdivide the 'meeting hall' site they purchased at 131 & 147 MacDonalds Road. The proposal is to subdivide the site into six blocks. One of these blocks is still to be developed into the large 650 place meeting hall. Objections to the proposal DA 36237/2009 must be received at Council by the 17th of April.
Residents are concerned about the following issues:
- The continued goal of the huge hall and its impact on the area.
- The use of the other subdivided sites - Will they be openly sold or kept for 'Exclusive' purposes?
- If the use is for 'Exclusive' residential purposes will this give a greater voice to the Brethren for the meeting hall to be approved? Already another property (or 2) in the road has been acquired by the Brethren.
- If the subdivision is for 'other' purposes, is a school, etc now on the drawing board?
- Will the platypus and other fauna on the site be safe? Is respect for the environment a priority?
- Dismay was felt by residents over the treatment of the creek during the renovations on the site, and in the use of underground water pumped across the street to this property (left running for 14 hours in one instance).
- Should blocks less than 2 hectares be approved, especially when some relate to the protected 7a zoning (Conservation and Scenic Protection) and the remainder are 7c2 (scenic protection) zone?
- Is the very limited (proposed) buffer zone between the creek and the development on the blocks adequate?
- Some sites are low lying, and with heavy rain retain water or flood.
- With one narrow road access to the area will residents and the meeting hall congregation be able to escape in emergency situations like the Victorian 'Black Saturday' bushfires?
This valley is an extremely rare and beautiful place and needs to be protected and preserved for the future generations.Click HERE for the new proposed plans!
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28/03/2009 |
PAST: Additional application for Brethren Development:
A further application for development has occurred. This involves extensions to a home near the meeting hall, owned by an Exclusive Brethren member. The extension will take the size of the home to over 650 square metres. We wonder if a palace for 2 is being proposed, or is this an additional meeting place for the Exclusive Brethren? |
09/02/2009 |
PAST: Brethren Submit Development Application:
The Exclusive Brethren have submitted a development application to Council to subdivide lots 2 and 3 ( the meeting hall site and adjoining lot). The subdivision is for 5 blocks of land. We are investigating and will post updates as information becomes available. |
03/01/2009 |
PAST: Renovations near completion:
Exclusive Brethren have nearly completed the renovation of the existing building. The site and road have been very busy on Saturdays. A substantial workforce was present to work on the building and the site itself. Trucks have been coming and going.
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10/12/2008 |
ACTIVE: How the Exclusive Brethren Hall Affects YOU:
We have recently been asked how the meeting hall would affect people who don't live close to the development. A copy of our reply has been placed in the 'Frequently Asked Question' section. We thought this was a very relevant point and would like to encourage readers of our site to email us questions and suggestions.
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Lisarow RAID, Exclusive Brethren, Kincumber, Green Point, Avoca, Davistown, Saratoga, Erina, Gosford, Umina, Woy Woy, Empire Bay, Bensville, Copacabana, Macmasters, Wamberal, Springfield, Point Claire, Wagstaffe, Tascot, Koolewong, St Huberts Island, Daleys Point, Orange Grove, Booker Bay, Forester Beach, Tumbi Umbi, Bateau Bay, Killcare, Ettalong, Yattalunga, North, South, East, West, Harteys Bay, Pretty Beach, Wyoming, Lisarow, Narara, Niagra Park, Kariong, Ourimbah. |
