Source
ABN 38 686 119 087
PO Box 29 Wentworth Falls NSW 2782
Phone: (02) 4757 1872 - Fax: (02) 4757 1753
General Manager
Blue Mountains City Council
Locked Bag 1005
KATOOMBA NSW 2780
Attention:
Springwood Town Centre Options Report
Reference: File F00241
23 September 2007
To whom it may concern,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment upon the Springwood Town Centre Options Report. The Blue Mountains Conservation Society would like to make comments relating to: ownership of the BMCC sites, environmental issues, suggestions for the sites, and further consultation about redevelopment options.
The Society believes that BMCC should retain ownership of the Civic Centre precinct, Northern and Southern car parks and particularly retain ownership of community facilities such as the library and neighbourhood centre. Leasing is a preferable option and any income generated should be fed back into the servicing of Springwood Town Centre.
The Options report states that "sustainable building practices should be demonstrated by the council in any refurbishment or upgrades of Council community facilities including reduced energy and water consumption" (p15). This principle should be incorporated into the Eol so that any new development, whether this be upgrading of Council community facilities, or new commercial/residential development should use: solar passive design, water tanks, grey water re-use systems and be energy efficient.
The building standards should exceed the level outlined by BASIX and reflect the expectations expressed in the BMCC document 'Towards a More Sustainable Blue Mountains - a 25 Year Vision for the City'. This Vision states that "we conserve energy and the natural resources we use and reduce environmental impacts by living sustainably".
Council's preferred option is that the sites be "offered to the market with Council identified opportunities and suggestions " (Options report p20). The Blue Mountains Conservation Society recommends that guidelines regarding sustainable building practices form part of these 'suggestions' and that these become guidelines rather than simply suggestions.
The 'procurement evaluation criteria' for the Expressions of Interest should includeThe 'procurement evaluation criteria' for the Expressions of Interest should include an assessment of environmental considerations specifically relating to the sustainable building practices outlined above.
The Conservation Society is concerned that development in the Southern Car Park and the southern part of the Civic Centre could increase erosion and runoff into the Magdala creek catchment.
Problems associated with drainage of the Southern Car Park were identified in the BMCC information pack for the Stakeholder workshop, 18 March 2007. According to the table on Planning Requirements (p18):
"This item alone may potentially make redevelopment of the southern car park unviable".
Although guidelines may be placed upon new development for stormwater and erosion control, these may not be achievable and may not be enforced.
Hence the Blue Mountains Conservation Society opposes any development which would impact negatively upon the Magdala Creek catchment.
The Society supports:
The ability to comment upon specific development options during the Expressions of Interest assessment stage (March 2008) is important to the Blue Mountains Conservation Society. The current Options Report understandably provides only a general outline of what may occur on the three sites. We would like to contribute further when more detail becomes available.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to comment upon the Springwood Town Centre Options Report.
Yours sincerely,
Tara Cameron For the Management Committee