Killcare, New South Wales

Killcare Central Coast, New South Wales
Population:	525 (2006 census)
Postcode:	2257
Area:	2.4 km² (0.9 sq mi)
Location:	10 km (6 mi) SE of Woy Woy
LGA:	City of Gosford
Parish:	Kincumber
State District:	Terrigal
Federal Division:	Robertson
Suburbs around Killcare: Brisbane Water Killcare Heights Hardys Bay Killcare Killcare Heights Hardys Bay Tasman Sea

Killcare is a south-eastern suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the Bouddi Peninsula. It is part of the City of Gosford local government area.

Prior to the arrival of European Settlement, Aboriginals from the coastal Guringai (Ku-ring-gai) tribe lived in and around Hardys Bay area. Evidence is to be found today in rock carvings and middens found in numerous locations around the area. After British settlement the area was established as a fishing and farming community. The name probably originated later as it was subdivided early last century as "killing one's cares".

The Killcare area encompasses both the beach and bay side of the Bouddi Peninsula with a small fishing village atmosphere centred around the Killcare Store. The village has an unusually broad variety of shops including yacht charters, art, hairdresser, restaurant and cafes and real estate agents. Killcare Marina has permanent moorings. The neighbouring suburb Hardys Bay begins at the Hardys Bay Fish & Chips Shop, and encompassess the South sector of the Bay.

Killcare beach is a beautiful south facing beach that looks over to the northern beaches of Sydney. The beach has its own Surf Lifesaving Club, built in the 1930s, rebuilt in 1973, and then completely demolished and built again in 2009 as a modern state-of-the-art facility, and is patrolled in the Summer season. Putty Beach is the Northern end of the beach.

Development

Large scale rutile mining took place over the hill at Putty and Killcare beaches in the 1960s and stripped the beach of its large sand dunes and destroyed many native plants, molluscs and animals. Miners had agreed to revegetate the area which they did with the noxious pest bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera), which the various land care groups are now trying to eradicate.^[1]

Over the last 30 years property values in the area have reached into the millions of dollars as it is a prime location for holiday houses and retirement, like many other coastal areas within close proximity of a major city.

This pressure to develop has seen many fibro cottages demolished and replaced with million dollar weekenders. Some heritage sites, including the Ferry Masters cottage at Wagstaffe have been illegally demolished and developed despite council attempts to prevents this; prosecution of the developers was unsuccessful due to a technicality.^[2]

Marina Delevopment

In late 2007 a scheme to develop the existing marina was presented to the community by the Marina's CEO, Michael Sparks.^[3] This $13 million development would see the existing marina as well as the historic Hardys Bay wharf replaced by a much larger structure containing: 100 car parks over the water; an increase in the number of berths from 23 to 100; additional retail, cafe and restaurant space; as well as providing a 7 day a week boat maintenance facility.^[4] Additionally, any applications for new or upgraded marinas must include the provision of a 24 hour sewerage pump-out facility.^[5].

Sparks also advised that this marina project application would circumvent the local council approval process and utilise what is called the Part 3A method of approval. This is a reference to the new provision in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act which reduces the involvement of the community in the original decision making process. The decision makers for applications made by marinas under this law are the Minister for Planning and Director General, Department of Planning.^[6] While the developers maintain that there will be little environmental impact, a stand of Grey Mangroves (Avicennia marina) will have to be removed to make way for the structure, and degradation of the beds of sea grasses is also possible.

Following a presentation to the Hardys Bay Resident Group on 19 February 2008 by Sparks, the group rejected the redevolpment plan.^[7]. In March 2008, the Wagstaffe to Killcare Community Association also announced that they could not support the current proposal.^[8] In early 2008 the plan was rejected by the Department of Planning after numerous complaints from as far away as Slovenia.

58-62 Araluen Drive Developement

In September 2008 plans ^[9] were lodged with Gosford City Council for a major re-development of the site in Araluen Drive currently occupied by the fish and chip shop (currently closed), Yum Yum Eatery and an adjoining residential development. The proposed development included a large, seven level building covering three blocks of land and requiring the removal of over 100 large trees. Four new commercial properties were proposed and nine terraced apartments were to step up the slope behind the retail premises. Underground parking for 34 cars was to be provided. The initial plans received over 600 objections and was rejected by Gosford City Council. An amended plan was lodged and received over 700 objections. Accordingly, the council rejected the development as being out of character with local planning requirements. In late 2009 the developers (Bespoke Properties P/L) have subsequently appealed to the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales seeking a review of the Council’s decision to disallow that development at Hardys Bay.^[10]

References

External links

• Killcare, New South Wales is at coordinates 33°31′55″S 151°22′05″E / 33.532°S 151.368°E / -33.532; 151.368Coordinates: 33°31′55″S 151°22′05″E / 33.532°S 151.368°E / -33.532; 151.368
• Killcare Surf Lifesaving Club
• Killcare Wagstaffe Trust
• Hardys Bay Residents Group

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