Locals are being encouraged to submit their thoughts on a proposal to redevelop the Oasis Caravan Park at Kanwal.
The site would go from 145 moveable dwellings, caravans, and cabins to a high density series of buildings up to 12 storeys in height with 675 units in total.
The number of units has been reduced from 800 units and the building height has been reduced by two storeys from the original development application (DA) submitted last year.
The proposal includes 15 per cent affordable housing for ten years, (102 apartments) and another 30 per cent (200 units) of Independent Living Units.
It includes less ground floor commercial space than the original plan.
“The site provides an excellent opportunity to create a vertically integrated development, positioned within walking distance to the existing Kanwal Village and less than 15 minutes from several major local centres (Wyong, Lake Haven, Warnervale, Wyong Hospital),” the application states.
Three public primary schools and one public high school are within 2km of the site and infrastructure within walking distance includes a medical practice, childcare, community centres, churches, sporting and recreational facilities and public transport.
The site is general urban, allowing for 50 dwellings per ha.
The proposed yield of 675 units results in a density of about 125 dwellings per ha.
The application states that the increased densification and urban consolidation serves as a proactive strategy to alleviate land-use pressures on outer areas.
“By decreasing the need for land-use clearing in these areas, the project actively contributes to the preservation of the environment,” the application states.
About 0.66ha of regrowth vegetation will be cleared to establish bushfire asset protection zones.
As a result, two (2) ecosystem credits and two (2) swift parrot credit would be incurred to offset the residual impacts and achieve a no-net loss.
About 320 trees will be planted and about 32 per cent of the site (1.7 hectares) will be publicly accessible open space.
“With the caravan park reaching the end of its functional life, this transformation adheres to the principles of logical infill, making efficient use of urban space and revitalising the area with a contemporary, sustainable development,” the development states.
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What about the people who live there now?
The park currently has 145 approved home sites (100 long terms and 45 short terms).
A total of 37 people in 33 sites have a permanent residency right under the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013.
The operator may terminate a site agreement under specific circumstances, one of which is a change of use.
• A DA for change of use must first be approved.
• A termination notice has a minimum notification period of 12 months.
• The homeowner has a right to apply to the Tribunal to postpone the termination date.
• The operator must use reasonable endeavours to obtain or assist the homeowner in finding alternative accommodation that:
o/ Is of the same standard and requires no greater financial outlay than the current residential site; and
o/ Is acceptable or reasonably ought to be acceptable to the homeowner.
The residents on short term leases do not have the same rights and are treated according to their lease terms.
The owner of the caravan park, Vivacity, said in its application that “Vivacity considers that we have a moral obligation to support all residents within the community.”
A facebook page has been created here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/872443348040170/
It has a link to the proposal.
Here’s what I wrote last year when the proposal first became public:
Great news Wyong desperatly needs urban consolidation, IMO the existing caravan park at Kanwal should never have been approved by council