Frustrated resident rallies 7D land owners

In 1990 Helensburgh land owner Alan O’Toole lost $50,000 in a failed bid to gain approval from Wollongong City Council to build a house on his 1ha block zoned 7D – Environmental Protection - near the Ampol service station on the Princes Highway.
For the next decade and a bit he accepted the court’s decision but the rebuilding that took place following the 2001 Christmas bushfires irked his sense of fair play.
He sensed other people would be in a similar position and sought a list from council of all the 7D land owners in the area.
“I knew I had to get them all together,” said Alan, who lives in Sylvania.
Over three weeks, Alan hand-delivered 180 letters to residents affected by the zoning and has now organised a meeting on 10 May to discuss the issue.
“I’ve never done this sort of thing before,” said Alan.
“I’m running on frustration and emotion.”
He has spoken to about 60 people since his mail-out, including one Otford resident who just spent $80,000 appealing council’s decision in the Land and Environment Court only to be dismissed.
“People have owned parcels of land in Otford and Helensburgh for 37 years and they’ve never been allowed to build,” said Alan.
“They’re paying taxes on residential land but they’ve been refused permission to develop in any way.
“In many cases along Otford Road they’re five acre blocks and it’s not going to make a tad of difference to the Hacking River if they’re developed.”
Alan said long-term owners had bought their properties before they were rezoned to environmental protection.
“Most people want to put a house on their block of land,” he said. “That’s what motivated me to do this.”
The meeting will be held in the Helensburgh Community Centre, Walker Street, on Tuesday, 10 May, from 7.30pm.
Heathcote MP Paul McLeay and Wollongong councillors Alice Cartan and Dave Martin have been invited.