Uniting’s $148 million redevelopment of its Nareen Gardens village in Bateau Bay, on the NSW Central Coast, has run into headwinds from vocal community opposition.
The Not-For-Profit provider is hoping to quadruple the size of Nareen Gardens (pictured) by turning it into a three- and four-storey vertical development, with a total of 192 units spanning one to three bedrooms plus a four-storey aged care home with 160 beds and 40 additional independent living units.
However, locals from the Bateau Community Collective have pushed back on the proposal, sending a 425-signature petition to Central Coast Council and hiring town planner SKM to provide a submission to the Hunter Central Coast Regional Planning Panel opposing the development.
According to the submission, Uniting’s plans (artist impression above) would adversely affect privacy, traffic, noise, and light in the area, as well as being inappropriate in scale for low-density residential zoning.
“Based on the comprehensive review and assessment of the development provided in this report, we consider the proposal lacks merit and would have unacceptable impacts on neighbours and the broader Bateau Bay area.
“The proposal, in its current design, would detrimentally impact on the amenity of the adjoining established residences in Lakin St and Bias Ave,” the submission reads.
The current Nareen Gardens village comprises 62 single-storey buildings with 114 ILUs plus office and community centre, which would all be demolished to make way for the new buildings.
