IN the lead-up to the December election, some commentators and potential candidates have attempted to portray the "heritage mob" as being blockers of development and business progress in Bathurst. Nothing could be further from the truth.
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Volunteer groups such as the Bathurst and District Branch of the National Trust and Bathurst Heritage Matters do not have the power to block any proposed development.
This power resides in the hands of the council and specifically in the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Planning (DCP) instruments.
In State Significant Developments (SSD), the final power resides with the Minister for Planning.
Community groups and individuals cannot, by submission, block or deny any development application (DA) that is put forward to council for approval.
In recent times, the National Trust and Bathurst Heritage Matters have made submissions on DAs including the go-kart track proposal on Mount Panorama, the private hospital proposal on the Clancy site, and the Taco Bell proposal for Stewart Street, to name a few.
In all three cases, the Trust supported the development concepts but opposed the proposed locations, suggesting better or alternative sites.
Pointing to the large number of empty shops in the CBD and blaming heritage is disingenuous.
The move to online retailing, high lease costs and the ongoing COVID economic downturn are the true culprits here.
OTHER RECENT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
A six-storey private hospital with multi-storey car park will not change this.
But more attractive, tree-lined, pedestrian and bike friendly streetscapes might.
Numerous studies in Australia and overseas have shown that where shoppers linger longer in people friendly town centres, nearby businesses prospered.
To this end, the Trust and Bathurst Heritage Matters have strongly supported the work of the Town Square Group and the Town Centre Master Planning process.
We look forward to community-based redevelopments of the old TAFE and ambulance station buildings that will help to revitalise the CBD.
Heritage done well will reward Bathurst very handsomely into the future.
Ill-considered, unsustainable, or inappropriate developments need to be guarded against if Bathurst is to retain the rural feel and historical charm that is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.
