CLOSING part of the disused Old Pacific Highway at Pinny Beach will allow work to begin on long-planned residential development in the suburb.
Lake Macquarie council is exhibiting a proposal to permanently close a section of the road, which is only used in emergencies, in order for the landowner to kick-start subdivision plans.
The council passed a motion this week to exhibit the proposed closure for 28 days, but made amendments to ensure the road does not close until an alternate emergency-access road is built.
Councillors had raised concerns about closing the road in bush-fire season.
However, staff said the process would take quite some time and exhibition was the "first step in the notification process".
Upon questions from councillors who were concerned delaying the closure would hold up the development, staff said a development application for "around 800 lots" was "quite some way off".
But inquires made by the Herald suggest a DA could be lodged as early as next month.
Development of the North Wallarah peninsula has been planned for more than 20 years, with land at Murrays Beach released over the past decade among the first of an estimated 2000 lots.
READ MORE
