The General Manager 23 August 2007
Eurobodalla Shire Council
PO Box 99
MORUYA NSW 2537

DRAFT DEVELOPMENT CONTROL PLAN FOR "THE BRAE", MORUYA

Coastwatchers Association congratulates the proponents on this Draft DCP. It appears to be sympathetic to the environment and constraints of the site while allowing a variety of housing relatively close to town.

There are several things we would like to see altered -

1. APPROPRIATE BUILDING STYLES FOR STEEP BLOCKS
To avoid another look like the newer estate at Long Beach, we would like to see clearer mention of appropriate building styles for the steep lots in the western half of the site. Excavation should be strongly discouraged and buildings made of light materials and designed to step down the slope if possible. This will minimise soil disturbance, problems with drainage and impact on the creeks.

2. SETBACKS FOR INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT
If there are to be zero rear setbacks and up to half the side boundary with zero side setbacks then it should be made clear that requirements for solar access and privacy over-ride this allowance.

3. USE OF BAGGED / RENDERED MASONRY
Another requirement that has crept into most DCPs lately and Council's Residential Design Code is that there be no use of face bricks but instead masonry should be bagged and rendered. This guideline is all about fashion, could be counter productive as far as aesthetics is concerned, and undermines Council's objectives for sustainable development and reduction of Greenhouse gases.

• Council may be able to influence initial colour schemes for painted masonry but when the buildings need repainting it will be entirely up to the owners. Depending on the fashion at the time and the tastes of the owners the results could be much worse than face bricks of any colour.
• There are many examples of face bricks that are similar in colour to some in the palettes in recent DCPs. Provided the mortar does not contrast they should be just as acceptable aesthetically.
• Bagged or rendered masonry not only uses bricks but adds more cement (large amounts of Greenhouse gases are emitted in its production) and then requires regular painting (usually with products derived from diminishing stocks of oil).

We ask Council to reconsider all guidelines banning the use of face bricks and requiring masonry to be bagged or rendered.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Jenny Edwards
Secretary