<< Peninsula News 9 April 2002 - Heritage changes approved >>

Heritage changes approved

Gosford Council has approved a plan to make alterations to a heritage-listed cottage at 6 Taylor St, Woy Woy Bay, despite opposition from the Council's Environmental Heritage Committee.

The alterations will reinstate Dutch gables, believed to be part of the original roof structure.

The Heritage Committee opposed the changes in March last year, stating: "Some members of the committee recall the house in the 1960s in its original condition and do not agree that there were dormer windows in the roof, not in this 1920s house or any other of that period built in the City.

"They are only seen in neo-Federation houses in Woy Woy Bay and elsewhere and the effort should be to mark the difference between the heritage item and the modern buildings.

"It is considered that the existing roofline at the front of No. 6 Taylor Street is a feature of the Heritage Item and should not be altered."

Council had consented to two small Dutch gables with skylights in the roof below last May.

Last week's decision allows the gables to be enlarged, with glazing incorporated in their vertical face.

In support of their application, owners of the cottage said that the current roofline of the residence was simplified from an earlier original form, with small Dutch gable details removed.

"Upon opening up of the roof of the residence, it became immediately apparent that the earlier assertions that the roof in its present form bears little resemblance to its original arrangement were correct," they said.

"The original structure is discernible."

A council inspection revealed the existence of a number of timber roofing components located intermediately along the length of a number of the rafters.

The rafters had been cut to accommodate these intermediate components.

"The age, condition, location and fit of these intermediate components suggest that they have been an integral part of the roof for many years," council staff reported.

"It would appear that these components were part of a roof structure which was not of simple hip construction and may have been either dormer roof structures or a Dutch gable."

Cr Judith Penton said: "I've always thought the cottage was incomplete and I have wondered why it was put up as a heritage item.

"I never thought the roof made so much difference, but to me, we will only approve putting it back as it originally was."

The only councillor who voted against approving the application, Cr Geoff Preece, said: "The Heritage Committee decided that it did not originally have the features as shown in the proposal.

"I don't think it will be restoring anything, so I'll be voting against it."

Cr Lynne Bockholt said: "I think this is nit-picking.

"These people are preserving the essence of the house and if we can help them we should.

Cr Chris Holstein pointed out that the proposal is just a minor adjustment to the gable.

Jonathan Reichard, Council agenda DH.046, April 2