This is how the theory goes. The first form of employment is land clearing and establishing infrastructure of roads and utilities. Not a lot of people involved in that - a few mega-sized bulldozers; a few surveyors; and a small team of contracted workers. Finally the land is completely cleared and ready for sale. If it sells quickly, the developer makes a good profit, however this is often not the case. Assuming sales do proceed and development applications are approved then builders and tradespeople move in. Slowly houses emerge, families move in, contributing to the local economy and ensuring more facilities are needed to service the growing needs of the suburb. This may include shops, transport, schools, health professionals and so on.

The reality in Manyana has been quite different. In October 2017 an area for 40 home sites on the bush behind Manyana Beach was cleared. To date, only 13 houses have been built. The rest remains a wasteland. Two or three of those are homes to permanent residents who are retirees. The rest are holiday homes. The slow take-up of building on these blocks does not constitute ongoing employment, nor does the predominantly holiday-maker owner. Few young families can afford to come here and generate an ongoing contribution to the local economy. There actually is very little demand for new housing stock in Manyana.

Many developments already exist across the Shoalhaven, and many of these are angering residents who feel there is already enough. The same developer, Ozy Homes, has projects at Nowra Hill and Vincentia. Other developers have projects at Dolphin Point; Narrawallee; Ulladulla Harbour; Cork's Hill Milton; and Summerfields Mollymook. Nearby Sussex Inlet is progressing with the Golf Village, which aims for 750 dwellings on top of many currently unsold homesites from previous development. This is not an exhaustive list. For an indication of what Shoalhaven City Council forecasts in residential development see https://forecast.id.com.au/shoalhaven/residential-development?WebID=200&AgeTypeKey=3&SWebID=100&BMID=20

What proponents for more development fail to consider is the current economic situation and recovery from bushfires. There is actually massive employment involving post-bushfire rebuild. We have shortages of many contractors to do the work, least of which are the arborists who are being brought in from other states to attend to and advise on the decimated bushland.

Of all the homes already built around the Manyana area, only half are occupied permanently. The only time our population swells and occupancy is totally full is during holiday periods. We struggle to sustain two small cafes which also stock minimal supplies. This is a destination for respite from urbanisation. It's uniqueness of flora, fauna, beach and bush is what attracts people. We stand to lose more of this if the 182 home sites replace a rare piece of refuge for regeneration and recovery amongst the devastation of what remains of Conjola National Park which is already deemed an ecological hotspot.

What a magnificent addition to Burrill the Edgewater develoment would be. To have the option to wine and dine in Burrill rather than travel to Ulladulla or Mollymook would be tremendous for the area. The lake now is at its picturesque best following the change the new bridge has had to the lake. I have holidayed in the area most of my life and have owned a cabin in the holiday park for 15 years. This development would not detract from Burrill but add an attraction for locals and visitors alike. Bring it on. Your decision to let the staff decide will avoid a debacle and delay.