Shoalhaven City Council refuses Burrill Lake boat shed development at Barker Reserve

At the Development and Environment Committee on April 9, the application was narrowly refused, although councillors agreed to continue to work with the paddlers to find another suitable location.

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Shoalhaven Councillor Greg Watson said with the amount of concern locally, he felt the proposal was "unacceptable to the local community".

"I acknowledge we should try to find them another location which isn't so sensitive to the local community," he said.

Cr Patricia White agreed and said though council had helped several community groups find homes, there were huge problems with this building.

"I believe the car is before the horse - this is community land, this is land that needs to be leased, we have not seen any detail of any lease or license and it is this council which has to issue that," she said.

"In 1981 this council looked at building a sailing club, the community at that time said it was not the right place to build it."

Former Mayor and Councillor Joanna Gash said the paddlers had covered every approval that they needed.

"They've been working for a long, long time to find a location," Cr Gash said.

"The park belongs to all, not just the club, not just the people who live there but the park belongs to all of the community.

"I think its an excellent proposal in regards to what they intend to build and I'm very supportive of the proposal."

For the development: Crs Findley, Gash, Digiglio, Alldrick, Levett and Findley.

Against the development: Crs Watson, Proudfoot, White, Guile, Well, Pakes and the CEO Stephen Dunshea.

Cr Kitchener declared a conflict of interest and did not vote on the proposal.