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Media Releases |
Media Release - Department of Planning Sydney: 13 October 2009 Casuarina Town Centre approval delivers housing, employment and open space benefits The NSW Government has approved a concept plan for a new $386 million town centre at Casuarina which will generate 500 construction and operation jobs for the NSW Far North Coast. The approved plan will provide a variety of low and medium density housing and tourist accommodation options, a core retail centre to cater for existing and future demand, public infrastructure works and a maintained foreshore area. The Department of Planning’s Acting Deputy Director-General, Chris Wilson, said project approval had also been granted for the $26.6 million first stage of the project, which will allow building works for housing, commercial and retail facilities including a new supermarket, to commence on the site. “This project will not only revitalise the Casuarina town centre for locals and visitors, it will also provide the core retail, commercial and residential development required to service the current and future needs of the town and its residents,” Mr Wilson said. “It also meets a number of key priorities of the NSW Government, including bringing jobs closer to home. “The 500 construction and operational jobs expected to be generated also meet the objectives of the Far North Coast Regional Strategy to encourage sustainable growth and development across the region.” The Casuarina town centre is on the beachfront four kilometres south of Kingscliff and four kilometres north of Cabarita Beach. The 26.2 hectare site fronts Tweed Coast Road and adjoins the Casuarina North and Central precincts. The first stage of the town centre project includes:
Other works include landscaping of all street frontages, open space areas, the foreshore and the Civic Park. Mr Wilson said the local community had also shown a great deal of interest in the proposal to fill an existing drainage easement along the site’s north eastern boundary. “The drainage easement primarily functions as a stormwater relief system,” Mr Wilson said. “The proponent originally proposed to fill the entire easement and provide only a 15 metre wide open space corridor. “Under the amended plan, the proponent will now retain the easement for drainage purposes, whilst also providing a landscaped open space corridor 20 metres in width alongside the easement route. “The existing pedestrian cycleway will also be upgraded as part of the works.” “A number of submissions also raised concerns that the Esplanade Road would be extended the entire length of the foreshore. “It was therefore decided that the road should extend for just one third of the site’s foreshore frontage. “This will preserve public open space – including a neighbourhood park, whilst also maintaining adequate vehicle access to the foreshore with adequate public car parking.” Approval of the first stage announced today is subject to a number of conditions recommended by the Department of Planning, including:
“The Casuarina town centre approval will deliver an important boost to the economy of the local area, at the same time as providing for its future residential, retail and recreational needs,” Mr Wilson said. More information on the project and the Department’s full assessment report can be accessed by visiting www.planning.nsw.gov.au and searching the project on the Major Projects Register on the Development Assessments drop-down menu.
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