The Local Planning Panel has refused to allow a concrete in-ground swimming pool at a waterfront residence at North Avoca.
The owners of the five bedroom home, at 44 Ocean Street, North Avoca, advertised as a holiday letting, wanted a 34Msq pool built forward of the coastal building line.
Ancillary structures may be permitted forward of the coastal building line but the panel was not satisfied that the applicant had demonstrated that it would not cause increased risk of coastal hazards on that land or other land.
The panel listed another four reasons for its refusal.
“The proposed swimming pool forward of the Coastal Building Line would conflict with the potential alignment of future coastal protection work and therefore inconsistent with management actions outlined within Council’s Coastal Zone Management Plan for North Avoca Beach,” the panel said.
“The proposed location of the swimming pool on the land seaward of the Coastal Building Line as defined with Chapter 6.2 of the Gosford Development Control 2013 would constitute an undesirable precedent for future development and threaten realisation of strategic planning objectives to reduce risks associated from coastal hazards. “
The panel it was inconsistent with various objectives of Gosford Development Control Plan 2013 and with the principles of ecologically sustainable development as specified within the Local Government Act.
The applicant had argued that the proposed pool would be founded on piles about 11.8m below pool excavation level and the pool would be designed to be suspended, as the sand would subside underneath.
The panel of four met last week and the decision became public this week.
