Council loses Merimbula retail cap fight
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The New South Wales Planning Minister has overturned a move by the Bega Valley Shire Council to try and limit the size of new retail projects at Merimbula.
Frank Sartor has refused to approve the 1,000 square metre cap the council has imposed on future projects as it tries to channel big developments to other parts of the shire, while trying to maintain Merimbula's tourist appeal.
The Minister said Merimbula was a key regional centre and was entitled to develop and serve its community.
Bega Valley Shire Mayor Tony Allen says his council has no alternative but to accept the decision and it is now up to council to decide how to treat future applications from big developers.
"Well he's always reluctant for a cap on the centre of Merimbula and he's been true to his word," he said.
The Minister maintains that this decision is part of his planning for the development of the lower far south coast, so we're certainly not about shoddy development and our planning staff will maintain that that happens."
But at Merimbula this morning, there has been an angry response from the town's chamber of commerce, with deputy president Graeme Wykes predicting the decision will pave the way for developers to destroy the town's appeal.
"It's the reason why the town is in the mess it is," he said.
"Because developers know all the loopholes, every rule, every way of twisting things they can to minimise their contributions to the community."
