The Mercure Resort Gerringong expansion will include the new structures depicted in white. Image: Kiama Council Business Papers.
The expansion of a resort in Gerringong which would allow for more accommodation and upgraded restaurant and function spaces has been given the green light by Kiama Municipal Council despite objections by the owners of neighbouring properties.
The Mercure Gerringong Resort will now be able to progress with plans to create 23 more rooms on the property and build new structures, after Kiama Council approved the development application for the expansion.
In the public access forum held prior to the council meeting, neighbouring property owner April Ruthen-Gough expressed concerns about how the changes would impact the families that surround the development.
“This is not a minor impact, this is an immediate and unavoidable impact on my home,” she told councillors.
“My family will lose privacy. Hotel guests will be able to see and hear directly into our property and this is not reasonable for a residential home.
“Noise and disturbance are inevitable. At this short distance no condition will truly protect us from ongoing noise and disruption from the proposed building to restaurant and outside toilet amenities which are planned to be open from 7 am until 11:30 pm every single day.
“This is already affecting our wellbeing. The stress, anxiety and lack of sleep that it’s caused my family is real. Our home no longer feels secure.”
While April said neighbours were not opposed to the idea of development, she called for further consultation.
“Nobody’s been to our properties and stood and sat where I eat breakfast or where we go in the pool or anything to see the reality of what’s going to be impacting our neighbours.”
The resort owner Steve Bartlett said the proposed structures and landscaping were designed so the expansion wouldn’t be overlooking anybody’s property and showed measures had been taken to help maintain privacy.
Council staff had recommended the hours of operation be reduced to manage noise, but Mr Bartlett said that would have a significant impact on the business.
“We can’t run functions like that. It currently doesn’t run that way, it’s never run that way,” he said.
“Can’t do room service, can’t do early breakfast.
“I’m arguing that we don’t have trading limits on it; if the issue is noise, we’ll deal with noise.”
During the following council meeting Councillor Matt Brown suggested the restrictions on trading be removed from the provision of the DA approval.
“I think it is most important that we listen to the concerns of the operator and the operator is saying that to have a function, it needs to be able to finish at a decent time,” Cr Brown said.
“We need to make sure that our businesses are allowed to stay open.
“It’s crazy for us to be trying to get a night-time economy in Kiama and we’re imposing absolutely crazy restrictive trading hours to a business in Gerringong – we need to make sure the whole municipality has the vision of vibrancy because that’s how these places operated.
“I’m asking that we seriously consider supporting this business rather than hampering it.”
Councillors voted to loosen the proposed trading restrictions and approve the development application.
