Port Macquarie coastal development allegedly linked to Obeid family interests rejected

The "unsatisfactory visual impacts from key lookouts, especially the coastal walkway", was one of the reasons the project was knocked back. (ABC Mid North Coast: Emma Siossian)

A controversial Port Macquarie development proposal, scrutinised in a recent ABC Four Corners report investigating the Obeid family's coastal property interests, has been rejected by the Northern Regional Planning Panel.  

The Obeids have not put their name to the Pacific Drive project and the head of development company Laurus Projects told Four Corners that the Obeid family had no involvement in the proposed 68-unit complex. 

Eleven speakers, mostly nearby residents, registered to speak at the public meeting of the Northern Regional Planning Panel on Thursday and all were opposed to the development.

'Visual pollution'

"From my perspective the building will be an eyesore, it's too high," Krissa Wilkinson said.

"Allowing a development of this size and density to go ahead here will set an unwanted precedent for similar high-rise developments all along our coastal strip," Ed Coleman said.

Objections to the development included loss of the "iconic" sunsets that both locals and visitors enjoy.  (ABC Mid North Coast: Luisa Rubbo)

Lyndal Narin said the development would lead to the area becoming "something like the Gold Coast", while Carole Field described it as "visual pollution of the worst kind".

Malcolm McNeil, who represented a group of concerned local architects, told the panel they did not normally make a habit of criticising other projects but felt so strongly about Laurus development that they had to make an exception.

"The entry ramps and stairs are just a shambles as far as we're concerned."

Council-owned land would have made up a portion of the proposed development site if the application had been approved. (ABC Mid North Coast: Luisa Rubbo)

Fears for koalas, privacy

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's Deputy Mayor and mayoral candidate, Lisa Intemann, addressed the panel as an individual not as a councillor.

"We must be very careful to ensure that this does not, in fact, present a precedent in terms of, for instance, the height exceedence," she said.

"And in terms of koalas — there are 25 trees to be removed, native and non-native — this is known as a koala travelling route."

The chair of the panel said the proposal would have had adverse impacts on the scenic quality of the coast. (ABC Mid North Coast: Emma Siossian)

Unanimous rejection

After about 45 minutes of deliberation and an earlier site inspection, the panel's chair, Paul Mitchell, ran through the eight reasons why the proposal was unanimously rejected.

Among those reasons stated were loss of privacy, overshadowing to the west and south, and the development's bulky building form.

Mr Mitchell said the proposal was inconsistent with the coastal management SEPP, citing two clauses specifically, because of adverse impacts on the visual amenity and scenic quality of the coast.

Obeid Inc: the secret deals making the Obeid family millions. (Four Corners)