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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Signatures on church proposal

 

Gosford Council has received a petition, with 54 signatures from "Bensville Residents for Rural Quality", expressing "serious concerns" regarding the proposed school and church facilities on 39 Bundaleer Cr, Bensville.

In regard to the building character, the petitioners claimed the development was directly contrary to Local Environment Plan 426 which described the area as a "Rural Hamlet of Very Low Density Residential development", and did not conform with the neighbourhood in terms of scale, bulk, height, pattern of buildings and surrounding gardens, intensity of lighting and noise generation.

It would also be detrimental to the amenity of adjoining properties, according to the petition.

The proposal would see over 90 per cent of the site converted from horse paddocks to car parking for 214 cars, school buildings for 315 students, extensive office facilities and an auditorium capable of seating over 800 people.

The petition stated the development would generate an enormous traffic flow in an area that had very poor traffic accident statistics - 52 reported accidents in a 700m stretch in seven years.

In addition, some 50-100 year old Redgums on the property would be "lost forever".

The petitioners reminded the council of the conditions of Consent of Development Application 18909, that specified roadworks must be carried out by the school by November this year.

These roadworks were critical for the safety of children, the petition claimed.

Council agenda P.095, September 24