ANY plans for a hotel development on the Kempsey Shire Council-owned car park site at Crescent Head will face stiff opposition, if last Thursday evening’s public meeting is any indication.
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The meeting was organised by the Crescent Head Ratepayers and Residents Association (CHRRA).
It was attened by senior council representatives, there to discuss an Expression of Interest (EOI) received by the council for site.
The proposal involves building a 26-room 'boutique hotel' and retail development on the site in Rankine St, opposite the Crescent Head Country Club.
The council called for EOIs for the sale or lease of the site in July after receiving an initial enquiry from a potential developer last year.
Last Thursday the council presented the proposal to about 40 community members who attended the meeting.
They were provided information on the process to date and the proposal for the luxury hotel.
It was explained to those in attendance that this is the beginning of the process, and that the community was presented with this information now as before receiving an EOI, council did not have anything concrete to consult the community about.
The main concerns raised were the provision of car parking and additional retail space that may impact on the present businesses. Council staff were advised that a petition had been circulated with 750 signatures collected so far opposing any development.
This was even before the presentation of the hotel proposal.
CHRRA car park sub-committee representative Ben Latta said that the meeting attendees were almost unanimous in their opposition to the development.
“There really wasn’t anyone who was for it,” he said.
“Some people were prepared to wait to see more detail but generally the opposition to this development was pretty strong.”
Mr Latta said the CHRRA wanted to see the council address other development concerns in the village.
“The big ones that come up all the time are a lack of affordable rental accommodation and the lack of land for residential development," he said.
“This really holds back the development of Crescent Head because the permanent population can’t grow, which in turn means business can’t grow outside of peak tourist times.
“It is an important issue that is also starting to affect the school as kids leave and young families are not replacing them.”
Robert Pitt, Sustainable Environment Services director, said public input from the wider community was always appreciated.
“We welcomed the input from people who attended the meeting, this gives council information and concerns to discuss with the proponent to see if these can be adequately addressed to the community and council’s satisfaction” he said.
It was also indicated that Crescent Head residents would be keen to develop an overall village master plan.
