I am replying on behalf of the Broulee Mossy Point Community Association (BMPCA) concerning the proposed development of Oaks Ranch. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposal. The BMPCA has not met because of the restrictions associated with the Covid virus however the Committee has considered the proposal and has raised a number of questions which it considers the Association would need to have a better understanding before it could come to a view about the proposal. These are outlined below. We have put your letter on the Association’s web site which may give rise to other individual responses
Regards,
Andrew Bain
Acting President BMPCA.
Broader Planning:
We now have a lot of proposed housing development in this area of the Shire. Oaks Ranch, Rosedale, Bevian Road, Rosedale, completion of Tomakin, Broulee, Mogo. What analysis has been undertaken to estimate demand and to ensure that Shire infrastructure is not overwhelmed?
Is there going to be anything special about the housing development that creates something particularly attractive for the local community? For example the Estuary Estate promoted large blocks, quality homes quiet streets and private living.
What guarantees are there that the development will proceed as proposed? There are past examples of grand designs being approved but the eventual development being much less grand?
The Plans:
There are no compass points on the plan nor are local roads named, nor waterways labelled. This makes it difficult to understand how the proposal fits with the existing developments, particularly the Estuary Estate.
Traffic:
The proposal mentions that the design will be such as to control traffic using the development as a rat run though the Estuary Estate to George Bass Drive. When the development is complete there could be upwards of 1000 people staying in the estate. This alone will produce substantial traffic through roads in the Estuary Estate that are not designed for this traffic flow. This could be prevented by making the Old Mossy Point Road the main entrance for the development with traffic through the Estuary only permitted in an emergency.
How will construction traffic be managed so as to avoid problems for the Estuary Estate?
Block size and design:
There is no indication of the average block size. Will this be just another development of small blocks and boring houses like other Shire developments. This would be out of keeping with the Estuary Estate.
A mix of block sizes from 2 acre to 600 square metres would provide an interesting development with great variation in house design and garden development. It would also mean the development is more in keeping with the adjoining Estuary Estate.
Will roads and blocks be designed to facilitate solar access and reduction of non-renewable energy use?
Landscaping:
Are there landscaping plans including vegetation buffers and plantings to maintain the amenity of the Estuary Estate?
Pollution Control:
Golf courses are a recognised source of pollution largely because of heavy fertilising. The proposed golf course is on the banks of the Tomaga River. What are the plans to protect the river from pollution from the golf course and other elements of the proposal? There is currently concern about existing pollution from Mogo Zoo upstream.
Biodiversity Conservation:
The information from the website is particularly meagre. What did the ecological studies identify in terms of threatened habitats and species? What sort of protection is proposed for wetland areas?
Community Consultation Request Letter
My wife Lisa and I are the owners of the Oaks Ranch at 340 Old Mossy Point Road, Jeremadra. I’m not sure if you are familiar with our property / business or aware that we have been a long time in the planning for a proposed redevelopment of the property.
We are writing to you to advise that we have initiated a community consultation process to present the project to the community generally and to relevant stakeholders such as the local Broulee Mossy Point Community Association which I understand that you represent.
After many years of planning and undertaking numerous studies for ecological communities, bushfire, flooding, traffic and economic feasibilities etc, etc we are now in the final stages of the design development in readiness to submit our development application (DA) to the Eurobodalla Shire Council (ESC) in the coming months. Prior to the submission of the DA we are seeking feedback on the proposed development and will take into consideration any comments / feedback either supportive or critical, and will endeavour to address any issues raised prior to the submission of the DA.
The Oaks Ranch and Country Club (as it is currently known) has been trading since the early 1970’s with mixed success. The current owners have been partly involved since the early 2000’s and more recently we acquired outright ownership of the property. During the time of our involvement, the business has rarely covered its costs and is desperately in need of major upgrade and redevelopment. The recent bushfires and CV-19 have just added to the difficulties that the business has faced and it is currently closed for trading other than our Golf Course.
We have prepared a masterplan to redevelop the Oaks Ranch into a state of the art tourism, residential and resort community and to enhance the tourism offering for the Eurobodalla Shire and the greater South Coast of NSW. The facility will incorporate an upgraded boutique motel with 24 motel rooms and with Food and beverage services, function and conference facilities to service up to 200 guests / delegates. The proposed development includes 75 short stay resort style villas wrapped around a world-class 9-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman Golf Design.
The resort facilities will include a pro shop, tennis courts, swimming pool, a day spa, ancillary retail and convenience outlets set in landscaped open space and parklands. The overall project will also incorporate 90 architecturally designed homes set within a master planned landscape estate with significant measures taken to protect our native vegetation, flora and forna communities and wetlands areas. The project works will be staged according to the market up-take and we would anticipate a 2021 commencement for stage 1.
Due to the CV-19 pandemic and the requirement for social distancing, we have created a dedicated website to enable the Mossy Point / Broulee and surrounding communities to review and understand the owners’ current proposals for The Oaks Ranch and the overall Project details and to facilitate community feedback, comments and suggestions which can be considered and possibly included in the Development Application process, to address community concerns and to potentially improve the proposed development.
I have attached a copy of the masterplan but you can review the dedicated website via the link here www.oaksranchestate.com.au to access Project and Development Details.
We would appreciate any feedback and if you would like to meet where we could provide a more detailed presentation of the masterplan proposal.
Thanks and please let me know if you have any queries in the meantime.
Regards,
Martin Cork