Modification 7 Lennox Head Residential Subdivision (MOD 7)

Dear Michael and Louise


Please take this email as an objection to the opposed development of Epiq Lot 5.

The nature of the development is not within the keeping of the community. I was extremely disappointed to hear the planned aged care facilities were not going ahead as originally planned and now this ridiculous lot sized development is.

The block sizes are far too small, this is a developer and money wins again scenario. This will not be affordable housing as it will be inline with current Lennox market rates, which are anything but affordable to the average person.

Please show your support for a community who understands what a negative impact this will have on our community.

Regards
Benita Manion

Dear Mr Doyle,
Opposition to the Clarence Property Development Proposal / Super Lot 5 at Epiq, Lennox Head NSW 2478
I am writing to express my concerns about the development application from Clarence Property at Lot 5, Epiq, Lennox Head, 2478. I am opposed to this development.
This new development is lacks foresight as it does not take into consideration the environmental impacts or the infrastructure impact to the surrounding region. The afford housing concept is being rushed through with little thought about the region and the look more like a money grab as afford housing people are being sold small lots that do not offer backyards or much privacy.
devastating for our community.
As a Lennox Head resident, I am shocked that blocks of land as small as 135m2 will be sold for building homes, on top of each other. Approximately 100 tiny blocks of land, bringing an average of 2 cars per home and an average of 4 people per home. There seems to be many factors overlooked in this proposal.
Our local primary school now has been rezoned as it cannot find sufficient land to rebuild the school as the population as expanded rapidly, they have asked that families with children who live more than 2.5kms go to another school as they can’t accommodate the students they have already. The local high school that was built in 2019 has already started adding demountable classrooms as they cannot keep up with demand. I have a son who goes there already, and the school has been closed serval time due to not enough teachers to student ratio – this just isn’t acceptable.
With the recent flood are you 100% that this land isn’t low lying because when I went past it looked like a lake have sufficient studies been done to make sure it isn’t low lying land and we are not already putting vulnerable people at risk can they afford the insurance for flood damage.
I know you don’t live I the area, but it is hard to get medical appointments and as it stands if we have a serious accident we need to be airlifted to Brisbane or the Gold Coast as we do not have the adequate resources to service the area. Not to mention the nursing shortage in regional NSW we might be putting more lives at risk.
I am extremely concerned about the increased traffic we cannot find parking at the moment there is limited parking in town this has not increase over the years, but development has. How are the roads and limited public parking spaces going to cope?
How is the environment going to cope with the increased number of people this development will bring? We have approved roads through wetland areas pior to these developments I think council will need to revisit this statergy as well.
Consider the fact that the approved 'Crest' development, near Epiq, has not even commenced building. This is more people and cars in the area on top of this proposal.
Why can’t we have green spaces and find appropriate spaces for affordable housing in our region where families can have a quality of life and play in the backyard. Its really disappointing those developers can put an application through under the guise of affordable housing but give no consideration to what it means to the people who cannot afforded the housing. All honestly supply and demand will push the prices up so when people downsize or buy properties for thei children will it really be affordable anymore there isn’t enough legislation around affordable housing to assist the vulnerable its just seems like it’s a loophole for the developers to cram in housing to a area that has had nil impact study on infrastructure , environmental impact and flood rezoning after the recent floods
Please consider the impact of this development and do not approve it for this developer. Lennox Head has grown so much in the past 5 years. As a community, many people feel it has reached its 'comfortable' peak. A green space for this area would be a better use.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,

Hi Michelle

Please find attached Council’s Submission to Mod 7.

Let me know if you wish to discuss further.

Regards,

Peter


Peter Drew
Town Planner

I wish to strongly express my disapproval at the possiblity of the Super Lot 5 proposal.

I cannot believe that anyone would approve such massive overdevelopment of sites in Epiq at Lennox Head. The proposal by the developers to further develop the section now tagged as Super Lot 5, which would be for super high density blocks as small as 140 square metres, is ridiculous. The new, currently under construction, terraced blocks on Hutley Drive are small enough and to consider having blocks less that
half their size is insane. The amenities and infrastructure for the
Lennox area are already under stress, why consider making it so much worse?

Penelope Leslie

Attention Michael and Louise,

Re: NO WAY TO LENNOX GHETTO IN EPIQ

I am a proud homeowner in Epiq Lennox Head with my two young sons and STRONGLY DISAGREE with the possibility of this subdivision of tiny blocks being sold creating a Ghetto!!

I strongly disagree with the blocks that you are trying to sell off to low socio-economic clientele I am a local resident in epic Lennox Head and proud owner of my home and do not want this beautiful community to be destroyed and uglified by riffraff how dare you consider selling blocks of land only 100 m² it’s utterly ridiculous and must be STOPPED!

The pressure that would also put on local schools, traffic, parking, township, roads there is no way this can possibly be considered it would ruin the whole community that we are trying so desperately to hold onto.

Please do not proceed with this application as a local and a passionate lived of this town please think before you make a huge mistake.

Feel free to contact me on

Thank you for your consideration
Regards

Hello,

I am writing to express my objection to Modification 7 Lennox Head Residential Subdivision (MOD 7).

Born and bred in Lennox Head, I have lived here for nearly 42 years. My mother and father much longer. I have never seen as much disruption to our once sleepy coastal village as I have in the past two years.

This is primarily due to the development of Epiq; which, in my opinion and many other locals too, should have never been approved as it has. It has changed Lennox forever; and not in a good way.

The infrastructure simply cannot withstand this influx of people and their cars. Our overflowing public school is just one example of a village under stress.

And now the developers want to modify a development application that was already approved for a retirement village?

Our village doesn’t need another 100-odd homes squeezed onto tiny lots. We don’t even need a retirement village. What we need is a school.

If the NSW government is so desperate to find land for a new school, this is it. You’re not gonna find vacant land anywhere else in our village.

If this modification is approved, it is obvious that you have not a care world for our community or our kids.

Please do the right thing and reject this modification and push for this land to be resumed via compulsory acquisition for our new public school.

Thank you for your time.

Joel Taylor

Mr Doyle,
The proposal by the developers of the whole Epiq estate at Lennox Head to further develop a section now tagged as Super Lot 5, which would be for super high density blocks as low as 140 square metres, is absolutely ridiculous and totally unnecessary. The new, currently under construction, terraced blocks on Hutley Drive are small enough as it is and to have new blocks planned for less than half their size is totally absurd.

The infrastructure in and around Lennox is struggling now so to introduce tiny blocks creating even more demand on what we have would be a very unwise move. Also it's really disappointing that the area they are proposing for this Super Lot 5 is where a retirement village was initially proposed which would have been a very positive plan and welcomed by the community.

PLEASE do not let this Super Lot be approved.

George Leslie
Lennox Head

Hi Michael,

This is a brief submission to state our objection to the proposed modification to this development.

My family lives just off Montwood drive and we’ve only just become aware of the proposed changes to this development through social media last night. There it was advised submissions are due today which hasn’t left us a lot of time to respond and the majority of our neighbours are also not across the proposed changes and won’t have a chance to respond in time either.

One of the main reasons for our objection is the lack of school infrastructure in Lennox Head and surrounding suburbs. Following recent years of development in the area we can’t get our first child into Lennox Head primary school as it is now despite being part of the town. The change from retirement living to what appears to be extremely high density housing compared to the surrounding area will obviously alter the proposed demographic and exacerbate this issue. It’s a massive shame that desperately needed school space hasn’t factored into the master planning of the area.

There are added concerns which I have not the time to review and properly respond to in more detail, which briefly include:
1. the significant increase in traffic flow down montwood drive which is already becoming dangerous at times with the sharp bend at the bottom, and the intersection with North Creek Road (starting to see near misses in the mornings when the sun is low)
2. Impact on local ecology being so close to existing wetlands and reserves
3. The increase demand on existing services such as water and sewer
4. The lack of public usable space as part of the development,
(we’ve always been disappointed by the lack of trees in the whole of the epic development has the blocks are so small no one has space for any, such a stark contrast to the rest of Lennox)

We appreciate your consideration of our objection and hope this feedback is carefully factored into an a more suitable revision of the development of the site.

Regards,

David Niproski

We wish to strongly object to the development intentions of Clarence Properties, for Super Lot 5 Epiq, Lennox Head

Lennox Head is already struggling severely, trying to cope with unprecedented development, with its accompanying population boom. The town centre has not been designed for the number of people now living here. Ross Lane, the only practical exit to the Pacific Highway and to Lismore, is just a little country road being hammered by the traffic increase, and the unprecedented truck and heavy vehicle movements caused by the already out of control building boom here.

We just don't have the infrastructure to cope, and the planning to date hasn't been prepared to match this boom.

Given the huge population increase, the current Retirement Village development plan is a far better proposal, that may actually help cater to the community's needs.

Clarence Properties new intention of seriously high density lots, some with miniscule sizes, can only be seen as a "Greed Grab"- can't be anything else. Zero concern for the residents of Lennox Head.

The community doesn't want high density housing, doesn't have the facilities to cope with more population explosion, doesn't want more traffic dramas, and certainly doesn't want this development.

It is purely a statement of Clarence Properties Greed.

We do not believe that this is a realistic proposal, at least until we have the roads, village centre, parking facilities, and all the community infrastructure in place to handle it.

Please reject it - Thank you

Brian & Lyn Pool

Dear Michael and Louise,

Please accept my objection to development MP07_0026-Mod-7. Thank you for extending the submission period.

Below are the main reasons I oppose to this development:
• Flooding issues: Given its location in a low lying wetland, this area is at risk of flooding. If development goes ahead, it would increase the risk of inundation to nearby dwellings and itself would be at risk.
• High density housing: The size and appearance of the proposed development is not commensurate with the character the Lennox Head township.
• Parking issues: The Lennox Head village already has unresolved parking issues to which this development would add further pressure. It is also clear that the development itself lacks sufficient carparking to cater for the needs of its residents and their visitors. This would put pressure on the surrounding streets of Epiq which are already crowded.
• Increased traffic flow on Montwood Drive: Montwood Drive is a dangerous road that is already overused. The proposed development would increase traffic flow further. Also, one of the two entrances to the proposed development is located on the dangerous bend at the northern end of Montwood Drive.
• School issues: The development of Epiq has put massive pressure on our public primary schools. Residents of Epiq have been rezoned to a new school two suburbs away in Ballina while the Department of Education tries to resolve this issue. Rather than adding to this pressure, perhaps Super Lot 5 could be the solution to this issue by constructing a new primary school?

While Epiq has brought some benefits to the community, it has also caused many problems, some of which are outlined above. It is my strong opinion that the primary focus should be on resolving these existing issues rather than furthering development and exacerbating them or creating entirely new issues.

Should this development proceed, I would hope that as a minimum the density be reduced and the size of the lots increased commensurate with the other stages of Epiq (>600m²) and the character of our beautiful coastal town.

Many thanks for your consideration of my submission.

Warmest regards

Helene Gatland

Dear Michael
I am writing to express concern regarding this application. I do not believe the issues raised by BCD regarding the CMZ and APZ have been satisfactorily resolved. Neither have the stormwater issues raised by BCD and DPE Water. I don't believe the development should be approved until the applicant can demonstrate how the APZ can operate without affecting the CMZ and that stormwater will not adversely impact on the adjoining wetland. Both agencies have clearly outlined what documentation is lacking and needs to be provided.

Regards
Lisa King

I am wiring to express my concerns with the proposed modification (Mod 7) to Major Project 07_0026 at EPIQ Lennox Head.

This proposed modification only came to the attention of the community recently through an article published last week by the Echo. There was NO apparent community consultation undertaken for this modification. I strongly oppose this modification for the following reasons:

1. Lennox Head is a regional community – I moved here 23 years ago to settle in a regional community with the benefits that has to offer –space and community. Both of these ideals have been eroded by greedy developers over the las 23 years. So we now find ourselves living regionally, on top of each other, with no infrastructure or services to support us.
2. Lack of infrastructure/services – there is no such thing as public transport in our community. The local primary school is at capacity and children are being turned away. Medical centres and hospitals are straining under the sheer weight of numbers they are required to serve. Parking is at a minimum in down town Lennox Head. Traffic has increased dramatically yet there has been no upgrade to the road that provides us with access to the highway. In the flood event early this year, there was only one road open to Lennox residents to enable them to leave town. Adding additional high density housing to a community that is already bursting at the seams will only exacerbate these problems.
3. The high density nature of this modification will mean an increase in people, traffic, cars and pedestrians yet there are no plans detailing how our village and our community will cope with this increase. I have concerns for the environmental impacts of this development in terms of flooding and the wildlife corridor.
4. We have a massive issue with affordable housing in this area and a very large homeless population. Local business cannot attract staff as they cannot afford to live in Lennox or surrounding areas any longer. This development does not address this issue.
5. With an ageing population and aged care facilities non-existent in Lennox Head – and those in Ballina at capacity – an aged care facility on this site seems a much more appropriate option than high density housing.

This is greed at its finest – throw as many people into as small a space as possible with no consideration on how it will impact the community that have been calling Lennox home for years. We do not want, nor need, nor can we support expensive, high density developments in our town (I used to call it a village but unfortunately, greed has swallowed my village).

Michael and Louise,

I writing to you both to voice my concerns in regards to Clarence Properties recent change to their DA for the Lot 5 development at Epiq Lennox Head.
The original proposed development of retirement housing was a good fit for the area but this latest design is going to cause all sorts of problems.
The blocks are tiny [135m) the roads are too small and the amount of dwellings being proposed is ridiculous. It’ll cause parking, driving and overcrowding to already narrow roads with no doubt, accidents to follow.
Please don’t turn a reasonable sub-division into a overcrowded ghetto by allowing this change to the original DA, just so the developer can maximise profits to the detriment of the Lennox Head community.
Hopefully sense will prevail and this development will be rejected ?!

Regards,
Ed Single

Please find attached my submission for comment for Mod 7 EPIQ Lennox Head Residential Subdivision.

Regards

Lee Middleton

Dear Michael Doyle

I am writing in regards to the proposed Super Lot 5 at Epic.
We are a local family business from Lennox and are currently building our family home in Habitat Way, Epic. The thought of your proposed super lot has created a sense of dismay , disappointment and sadness within our family. Whilst we appreciate there is a desperate need for more housing in our local area , this is not the way to solve this housing issue and believe it is a ridiculous greedy grab from the developers to line their own pockets , not genuinely help solve the housing crisis or benefit the small community of Lennox. This is a small community already struggling with the population increase, our schools are overflowing, you can’t get a park in our main st and the increased traffic is very dangerous.
The small suburban streets surrounding this super lot will not cope with such a huge increase in traffic . I will no longer feel safe letting my children walk these streets , speaking of children where does this development provide any green space for them ?
You can’t just build a shopping centre and plonk high density highly populated subdivisions around it and hope for the best!!! Where are the infrustructure plans for the future?
I have seen this happen in Western Australia and it hasn’t turned out well.

Why not 40 or 50 blocks ( which still seems excessive ) surrounded by park lands & car parking spaces. What happens to all of the nature from those wetlands , why is a swamp being approved for this development ?
What are these developers giving back to the Lennox Community?
Please explain

Dear Mr Doyle,

Please find attached Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina’s submission objecting to MP07_0026-Mod-7.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Kind regards,

Siobhan Foley
Senior Electorate Officer

Hi Michael,

I am writing in regards to Application number MP07_0026-Mod-7, Main Project No. MP07_0026.

I object to the application and what it will do to our community.
I feel it is a money grab from developers who are trying to get every single penny out of the community at such a horrific time in need.
I mean, have you seen what the valley of Epiq looks like? It's boring and plain, Architecture has been killed by these developers. There is no room for any green space or big trees, and this development certainly does not accommodate adequate green space and deep planting of trees. The green space that is shown on the concept plan is unusable swamp land. Where are all the kids going to play and hang out? At present they hang out at Woolies.
The colour pallete of the development is old and boring. Like I previously stated, great architecture and design has been killed off by the boringness of these developments. Creative has all but died. Whenever I see something different in the new development I actually get excited.
I mean what is "contemporary beach architecture" anyway? It all looks the same and is so bland.

I don't feel there has been adequate research and studies in regards to the extra cars being generated from the 145 units. For argument's sake, 1 family per unit, min 2 cars per family, that equates to 290 extra cars on the road every morning and evening and trying to park at the beach or in town. Montwood Road is not a sufficient enough through road for those cars to get to Ballina or go South. There are no footpaths for pedestrians, so they all walk on the road, there are blind rises and blind corners at the steep section of the road. Monthwood Road is not designed for the extra traffic this development would bring. Has there been any studies in relation to this? How many cars already bypass via Montwood? How many cars is a road like Montwood able to accomodate safely? It is a school bus route so lots of kids getting on and off the bus with no pedestrian crossing or traffic calming measures to speak of.

Road C of the development, I would Love to see a view down that lane, the blocks on the North will overshadow the ones to the south, the road is 6m wide, but where are all the cars going to park. How will cars pass through there? It looks way too narrow for the amount of cars and people that will be frequenting that road.

In regards to the design, they talk of passive solar design, but I am not sold on it. 300mm Eaves? There are no gardens, or space around the development, for deep soil planting or any kind of generous planting. Privacy will surely be an issue? Those blocks again on Road C, they will only have windows on the North and South. How will those be naturally ventilated and where will they get all the sunshine from to heat up their house to reduce the need for artificial lighting, and heating and cooling.

If this is an affordable housing option will the price of these units be capped to $500 - $600k? And if so what is then going to be done about investers snapping these up and renting them out for extortionate prices or on AirBnB which then completely defeats the purpose of this affordable housing option. I just can't see that happening with Clarence property clearly only seeing $$$ at the moment and trying to make as much cash as possible.
They are showing no regard to the community with a development like this. It is doing nothing to help the community.

Where are all the kids going to go to school? Already I am out of the catchment area for Lennox primary now so I need to now find alternate schooling and transport arrangements for my kids. How are you dealing with this situation?
Has the state government found a new school location yet? We have been let down massively by the state and federal government and local council for failing to meet the demands of the growing town and providing us with the necessary requirements.
Surely this site would be much better suited to better provide for the community, whether it be parklands, a school, green open space for kids to run and play, another cafe or restaurant for evening drinks or a very family friendly bar? Anything besides cramming people into such a small space.

I sincerely hope you rethink your decision and stance on this monstrosity of a development. You only have to have a quick look online and social media outlets to see the entire community is against this type of quick buck / money grabbing / I don't give a damn about the community but my bottom figure type of development.
Hopefully sense will prevail and better use of this site will be achieved.

Regards,

Claire Pople

I write in complete opposition to the proposed Clarence Property Super lot 5 Epic estate plans.

I live nearby with my family, two small children. We brought in Epic estate with the view it would be quiet, family friendly and safe for our children. If these plans are approved there would be an enormous increase in people and traffic then the original plans.

It is sad that as much money Clarence Property have made on their recent developments they are still money hungry and not people or community focused.

The community are in need of a school. With such population growth in the area and re-zoning of Lennox public. Young children from Lennox are required to go to Ballina for school from kindergarten. The schools in Ballina are overcrowded, again due to population growth but also to taking in schools affected by the recent floods.

When will people say enough is enough to selfish developers that keep pushing and pushing. Clarence property proposal is completely inconsiderate. They have divided up the land to make as much money as they can. The block sizes are ridiculously small. Again for their profit and not out of considerations for people and the community need. There is a lack of parks and recreational spaces in the area and they haven’t even offered any green spaces on their selfish money hungry plans.

Look at what they have done to Epic estate. They just want more and more, more money for them. Whilst people are basically living on top of each other and children are forced to travel to schools which are overcrowded. They have provided no parks or public spaces.

It is enough! The Council and Government really need to step in and say NO! This development will absolutely negatively affect our children, families, environment, habitat in the area and safety on the roads.

Kind regards

I strongly oppose the latest proposal of development by Clarence property for Lot 5 Epiq on the following reasons:
1. Clarence property have inadequately addressed problems caused by their faulty open rock storm water drains built in the lot next to this. Their faulty engineering has impacted and caused destruction to several houses along Karalauren Court and Clarence property has done nothing about this. The developers show no duty of care for the community and use faulty engineering.
2. Council has already released enough land to meet housing demand for the next 20 years.
3. Loss of community diversity. Where do the elderly go now?
4. Further increase in density in this area with an inadequate amount of green space.
5. Changes to the liveability of Lennox Head. Increased traffic and amount of people living in each dwelling. This will further impact our already stressed infrastructure.
6. This is a small valley on clay soils and increased density would lead to increased stormwater management requirements. As stated in point one Clarence Property cannot control the storm water from their previous developed lots, so who will trust that they could pull this off.
7. Developers have not worked proactively within the community about this.
8. Endangered wildlife.

My final comments would be that if this is approved to go ahead it will be death for the coastal community of Lennox Head. It is so utter ridiculous that I cant believe it is even being proposed. Pure greed from developers that can't clean up the mess of their past actions.

To Michael & Louise,

I am writing as a new local to Lennox Head to express my concern for the modification to the new land development in Epiq. As a mother of two small children who have been unsuccessful at being able to send my children to any local daycare or public school, I am concerned about the growth and congestion this new development will entail.

It appears obvious from the current land development that this is going ahead. However, I would like to know (aside from serious profits been accrued) how anyone thought this would be a viable and considerate deviation from
the original proposed retirement allotment?

Are you considering or proposing alleviations for any of the foreseeable problems that will most certainly be experienced if this goes ahead?
1) the undeniable increase in traffic and ensuring pedestrians and residents are safe from the increase in traffic
2) greenlands or park facilities for our children to use
3) parking stress and accessibility to the village for local residents
4) the considerable detriment of the nature corridor due to residual pollution, human intervention and future developments
5) the density of the proposed land lots- some of these land lots will require minimum two storey builds with minimal yard space (if any), can you perhaps consider selling less lots with more land space? Perhaps rendering them more sellable and respecting the current lifestyle that appeals to the people who reside in this beautiful coastal town

I must admit it seems almost comical, even for a modern day conglomerate to still disregard the quality of both human life and wild life and overall sustainability of small coastal town living in pursuit of profits.

I sincerely hope you consider all objections as worthy opponents to the apparent agenda.

Yours in faith,

Sade Travers