Five key ‘Gateway’ and ‘Landmark’ sites in the draft Batemans Bay masterplan. Photo: via Eurobodalla Shire Council website.
Eurobodalla Shire Council has provided some information on the community’s response to the draft Batemans Bay masterplan which has been on exhibition for public comment for six weeks.
The draft plan pitches the council’s long-term vision for the Batemans Bay CBD, an area stretching from the town centre to the industrial area and along Beach Road down to the Batehaven shops.
While planners, engineers and architects helped bring together the draft which was written by the council’s strategic planning team, community consultation will inform the next iteration of the masterplan.
So far, around 1200 people have visited the project’s pop-up shopfront in Batemans Bay and more than 150 have engaged with planning staff at project market stalls in Moruya, Batemans Bay and Narooma Plaza.
A total of 120 submissions have been lodged so far in person and online. A council spokesperson said 120 was a “fantastic response”, adding 25 submissions was generally considered a good response.
That said, at a recent public access meeting, Johanna Weaver of Congo Community Association, said that 83 submissions had been made about the reopening of Congo Road. Some 80 submissions were also made about potential future development at Mystery Bay as part of the draft housing strategy.
Eurobodalla Shire Council’s manager of strategic planning Vivian Straw deconstructs the draft Batemans Bay masterplan. Photo: Eurobodalla Shire Council.
Council’s manager of strategic planning Vivian Straw said one thing everyone agreed on was something needed to be done for the Bay.
“Unfortunately, the town is looking a bit tired, and we really need to find ways to encourage people to live, work and relax in the town centre,” Mr Straw said.
“A fundamental goal of the masterplan is to encourage residential development and more people living in town. More people means more activity, more places to shop, and more places to dine.”
While locals show strong support for the revitalisation, the height associated with the landmark sites in the draft plan have some worried the town risks becoming the next Gold Coast.
In a press release, Mr Straw said he and his team understood the concern and they wanted to put things in perspective.
“The Gold Coast has more than 30 buildings over 100 metres and a handful over 200 metres, whereas the draft masterplan is talking about five landmark sites where heights up to 80-100 metres are achievable,” Mr Straw said.
Probing Our Plans Eurobodalla, a group of residents with professional expertise in the built environment, governance and sustainability spaces, has examined the draft masterplan in detail.
A spokesperson for the group said those five landmark sites were made up of around 11 lots. One of those five sites, comprising two lots at Vesper Street, was owned by the council.
Probing Our Plans Eurobodalla’s examination of the draft Batemans Bay masterplan includes this representation on Perry Street. Photo: Probing Our Plans Eurobodalla.
Mr Straw also referred to the draft masterplan’s projection for the population of Batemans Bay to reach 40,000 in 2100.
“In terms of natural population growth, the Bay is below Ulladulla, Nowra, and Wollongong, and nowhere near the scale of Queensland’s second largest city which is forecast to reach 1,000,000 by 2050,” he said.
The Probing Our Plans Eurobodalla spokesperson said it would be beneficial to hear council’s perspective in relation to the Gold Coast’s neighbour, Tweed Heads that has a population of 63,721 and a building height limit of 49.5 metres in some parts.
On 4 June Shellharbour City Council voted unanimously to oppose a 60-metre high development in “heritage-sensitive” Shellharbour Village. In 2021 the Shellharbour local government area had a population of 76,721.
The Probing Our Plans Eurobodalla group has previously said there was no basis for that projected growth in the population of Batemans Bay. A council spokesperson said the projection was taken from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Region has asked council for the link showing the ABS’ projection.
“To incentivise good-looking development that works well with its surroundings, we need to review our planning regulations,” Mr Straw said. “Current height limits were set in 2012, based upon structure plans prepared in 2007/08. A lot of things have changed since then so it’s good to review what’s working well and what we can do better.
“The goal we all have is to help Batemans Bay become a beautiful town in a beautiful location,” he said. “When people drive over the Clyde River Bridge, we want them to say wow.”
Submissions are open until 30 June. For more information go to council’s Batemans Bay Masterplan project webpage or contact its masterplan hotline on 4474 1007.
