Plans to subdivide government owned land in Mollymook opposed by community

Several Mollymook residents have written to council objecting to the application to subdivide the state government land into two blocks, which was lodged with council in November 2017 by JW Planning Pty Ltd. 

The application shows plans to split the 2.7 hectares of land into a 1 hectare block and a 1.7 hectare block. 

“The proposal involves land intended for use as a future school site, and the subdivision will enable the disposal of a part of the land that is surplus to need,” the application states. 

The site is covered in dense bush, but is close to existing residential development.

Nearby resident John McGregor, who started a petition against the subdivision, wrote in a submission to council that there was a “lack of transparency” surrounding the proposal. 

“Council is and has always been aware of the final outcome of the proposed subdivision, confirming our assertion of lack of transparency and consultation with residents,” he wrote. 

“A number of residents directly affected by the subdivision have stated they did not receive notification of the application.” 

Mr McGregor believed the subdivision was premature, and should not go ahead until a decision was made on the future of the former Shoalhaven Anglican School (SAS) land in Milton, which has sat empty since the school closed in 2016. 

“We are aware that this school is now closed. We believe that representatives of the State Government are in negotiations with the Anglican Schools Corporation to purchase the infrastructure and have it run as a state school and that our state member has been active in this regard,” Mr McGregor wrote. 

“These negotiations should be given time to play out, regardless of the issues surrounding federal/state funding issues, before any further consideration is given to the subdivision application.” 

The Ulladulla and Districts Community Forum voted recently to write to the state government, urging them to use any money from the sale of government-owned land in Mollymook for the purchase of the SAS land. 

The subdivision was “likely to have a detrimental effect” on house prices in the area, Mr McGregor wrote in his submission to council, which was attached to a petition signed by others opposing the plans. 

“If the  proposed 1.7 hectare lot is sold for anything other than private dwellings of similar or superior standard to the houses in the general area this will also have a detrimental effect,” he wrote.