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April 15, 2018 |
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Newsletter
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Offshore Residents
of Pittwater
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'Rogue development': Re-opening of a Sydney landmark divides community The
redevelopment of the Pasadena at Church Point into a restaurant and
hotel has divided residents.
Photo: Nick Moir Nicholas Cowdery encountered plenty of bad behaviour during his distinguished legal career. But the former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions uses harsh words to describe the owner of the Pasadena, a derelict former motel on prime waterfront land in Sydney’s northern beaches. The redevelopment of the Pasadena at Church Point into a restaurant and hotel has divided residents. “He has not engaged the community to discover or seek to accommodate its desires – he has just given the finger to everyone,” Mr Cowdery said. The target of Mr Cowdery’s ire is Paul Peterkin, whose plan to transform the Pasadena at Church Point into a 160-seat restaurant and boutique hotel has outraged some residents of the exclusive enclave, while winning the support of others. “It will bring at business hours more cars, more people including large numbers for functions, more noise, more light pollution, more drunken rowdy behaviour [and] service vehicles,” Mr Cowdery said. 'Terrible eyesore'Mr Cowdery, the vice-president of the West Pittwater Community Association, called the Pasadena “a rogue development” that did not comply with planning laws – an argument strenuously denied by Mr Peterkin.Nicholas Cowdery, the former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, pictured in 2013 with his wife Joy at Pittwater on Sydney's northern beaches. Mr Peterkin’s plans are at odds with the Northern Beaches Council, which resolved in August 2017 to compulsorily acquire and bulldoze the Pasadena to create a park. The council's plan to purchase the site with funds from the NSW government was backed by the Liberal member for Pittwater, NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes. “It’s vital that the low-key character of Church Point is maintained and its historic purpose as a community and commuter precinct continues,” he said in 2017. Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan said the site had become a “terrible eyesore”. “The community called on the state government and council to take action and a resolution was passed at that time to return this important piece of the foreshore to the community,” he said. The Pasadena was described as 'one of Sydney's most exclusive roadhouses' before World War II. A masterplan for the site would be developed in consultation with the community “if this acquisition is completed”, Cr Regan said. A council spokeswoman said negotiations with Mr Peterkin to purchase the Pasadena were “ongoing”. Proper processesMr Peterkin said the council was given the construction certificate in September 2017 and did not ask questions about it: "Similarly, council representatives attended the work site at various stages of the works and did not raise any concerns about the construction certificate."Mr Peterkin questioned whether the council followed proper processes in deciding to compulsorily acquire the site. He expected the “reinstatement and rectification works" to be completed shortly with the Pasadena re-opening in a few weeks. Not everyone is opposed to the re-opening of the Pasadena. A group of residents wrote to councillors in March to express concern about the council’s proposed acquisition of the site. “We are concerned that the views of a few small vocal groups who support acquisition may appear as the community view,” the email said. In contrast, Church Point resident Rob Jeffress said a restaurant and hotel at the Pasadena would have a serious impact on the environment and residents’ quality of life. Mr Jeffress said residents feared an occupation certificate would be issued if council failed to act, which would allow the Pasadena to re-open and complicate the acquisition process. Three Pittwater residents groups argue the re-opening the Pasadena does not comply with planning laws, and have demanded the Northern Beaches Council take legal action against Mr Peterkin. “The council is the custodian of the public interest with respect to the development taking place there and it is inconceivable that council would turn a blind eye to the work being carried on there at present,” the groups said in a letter to Cr Regan. Cr Regan said the council was “investigating the lawfulness of current works being undertaken at the site”. The residents groups have also raised questions about a 25-year Crown land lease, which they argue was improperly awarded to Mr Peterkin – a claim denied by the NSW Department of Lands. Colourful historyMr Peterkin’s plan for the Pasadena is the latest chapter in the site’s colourful and controversial history.The Pasadena had been vacant for several years until it was purchased in 2012 for $2.4 million by Altius, a company part-owned by Mr Peterkin that outbid the former Pittwater Council. The site on prime waterfront land has been the subject of a number of failed development applications, which included proposals for a day spa, restaurant and bar, motel and apartment buildings of various sizes. “Because these development applications have been rejected, Altius has been restricted to carrying out rectification and reinstatement works in accordance with a previous development consent obtained some time ago in the 1960s,” Mr Peterkin said. Mr Cowdery said legal advice from barrister Peter Tomasetti S.C. questioned the legality of the redevelopment, which relied on a construction certificate issued by a private certifier. “It is a travesty that these works are continuing under the pretext of a complying development approval dating back 55 years to 1963,” Mr Cowdery said. Mr Cowdery said the saga revealed flaws in the planning process and management of Crown land. Online article can be viewed HERE. By Andrew Taylor Andrew Taylor is a Senior Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. For further social media regarding this topic, search the following; Hashtags #roguedevelopersNSW #developers #property #Pittwater #Pasadena #CrownLandsNSW #NicholasCowdery #ScotlandIslandResidents #ChurchPointFriends Handles @WestPittwater @NSWPlanning @SMH_Andrew Taylor @SMH @theheraldsun Winter Young Musicians’ ConcertScotland Island Community HallSunday 17 June, 2018 2.00—5.00pmComperes: tba
Calling all young musicians who would like to showcase their work! This is our fourth concert and their popularity continues to increase. Please advise David Richards (drjavoo@gmail.com) or Robyn Iredale (rriredale@gmail.com) if you wish to participate or be a compere. Kath Anderson Massage TherapyHolistic therapeutic remedial massagefull body treatments with focus on the Marma Points of Ayurveda.Minimum time frame is 1.5 hours for a truly thorough treatment.In a cosy and tranquil space in Lovett Bay. $100 Any day or evening. Call Kath on 0405097424 Free Leather Lounge SuiteThree piece Demir leather lounge suite.One three seater and two single recliners. Pick up Little Lovett Bay. FREE Call Tim 0418 619 700
Who needs soil?
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Pick up from South Elvina.
Call Amanda on 0406 654 466
Washing Machine - Free!
Kleenmaid 6.5kg front-loader
Good working order.
Very water efficient but a cycle can take 2 hours.
Close to the waterfront but bloody heavy so you’ll need a few strong mates!
Call Col (0414 514 254)
or
Mary-Anne (0404 066 403).
Join SIRAYou can now join the Scotland Island Residents’ Association through the online Self-Service Portal at sira.org.auAlternatively, there are offline methods of joining, read more here or contact secretary@sira.org.au |
Join West Pittwater Community AssociationTo join the Western Pittwater Community Association http://www.westpittwater.com.au/Contact/join-the-wpca |
Archived Newsletters
A complete set of past electronic newsletters since May 2000 can be found and read at https://ymlp.com/archive_gesgjgm.php or by clicking here or by visiting the Mona Vale Library.The Island website is at www.scotlandisland.org.au
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The views expressed in this newsletter
are not necessarily the views of the Scotland Island Residents
Association (SIRA), or the Western Pittwater Community Association
(WPCA)
