Seven speakers opposed Summerland Point group home before 3:1 approval

Seven people spoke against a proposed group home at 30 Summerland Road, Summerland Point, before the Central Coast Council Local Planning Panel approved the application by a 3:1 vote.

Community representative Robert Carter opposed Development Application DA/440/2025, citing concerns about the lack of existing infrastructure and services to support the development. The proposal also attracted significant written submissions.

The Panel initially deferred the application for the group home and ancillary development at Lot 3 DP 270067 after Council officers identified inaccurate information about tree removal. The deferral focused particularly on 85 trees in the central part of the site.

The application was later approved through an electronic determination, subject to amended conditions. The Panel said a consistent concern in written and verbal submissions was the lack of certainty about the nature of the use.

One condition requires separate approval for any change to the group home use described in the Plan of Management dated 17 February 2026. The Panel said this would apply if a future proposal involved alcohol or drug rehabilitation, or transitional housing for people leaving correctional facilities.

Tree removal remained a significant issue during the assessment. After the deferral, the applicant provided further information, plans and reports, including updated arboricultural assessments covering the 85 trees and identifying three hollow-bearing trees in the central group.

The applicant’s updated Biodiversity Assessment Method Calculator confirmed that removing additional hollow-bearing trees would not increase offsetting obligations. Council’s ecologist advised that the information provided may be acceptable, and the Panel did not consider an updated Biodiversity Development Assessment Report necessary.

Conditions cover tree protection, inspections, verification and ecological management. They include relocating hollow-bearing tree sections through a Biodiversity Management Plan. The required replacement tree planting ratio was changed from 0.25:1 to 1:10, while bushfire requirements remain part of the consent.

The conditions also retain a requirement for a Detailed Contamination Site Investigation and amend provisions covering the approved use, arboricultural documentation and occupation of manufactured homes. The development must follow the amended consent and approved Plan of Management, with separate approval required for any change of use.