A total of 48 submissions have been received to date opposing a modified development application (DA) for renovations to Kierath’s Shopping Square, also known as the Coles Centre.
The DA involves the demolition of the northern side of the current walkway in the complex, creating a new one-lane driveway for cars to exit the rear car park onto Dandaloo Street, Narromine’s main street and the busiest part of town.
The previous DA for Kierath’s Shopping Square, where the flow of traffic was reversed, received 512 submissions from the public, objecting to the proposed changes.
A number of the current objections from the community include safety concerns such as:
o The movement of vehicles crossing the footpath either east or west is dangerous to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic on Dandaloo Street.
o There is not a ‘clear view’ to enable both pedestrians and motorists to cross safely.
o This tarmac area of Dandaloo Street is very narrow and to add an extra side street flow would be very dangerous to both pedestrians and vehicle traffic.
o Potential for more traffic back-up at the pedestrian crossing.
o Reverse parking on Dandaloo Street will become more difficult because of the extra traffic congestion.
Chris Brook, Director of Planning and Environmental Services at Narromine Shire Council, and Senior Planner Kylie Rowe said Council considers applications in terms of community safety and planning controls.
“The RTA has been consulted as part of the application,” Ms Rowe said.
“Council only approves applications providing appropriate measures are in place to ensure both community safety and planning controls.
“Council must consider that the development is a private development on private land which affects the community. This is a sensitive balance to maintain in terms of development assessment.”
Concerns have been expressed by a number of community members to the Narromine News and Trangie Advocate that the car parks shown on the modified DA are smaller than what currently exists, which would not be ideal for the ‘larger vehicles’ driven in a rural town.
“The car parks are at the minimum standard required by the RTA,” Ms Rowe said.
“Council has not measured the current site to determine if they are smaller.”
As for concerns if the DA went ahead that it would be detrimental to locally-owned businesses on site, Ms Rowe said “this issue is between the owner of the site and the tenant.”
The DA and supporting information can be inspected at the Narromine Shire Council chambers until Wednesday June 13 2012.
Any person may make a written submission during this time regarding the proposed development.
If the submission is by way of objection, the grounds for the objection must be specified in the submission.
“Council will determine the DA as soon as practicable,” Ms Rowe said.
“Submissions made during the
consultation period are taken into account where objections are based on planning grounds.”