Cottage Point neighbours react to inn development plans
A recent development application is on the radar of neighbours of the historic Cottage Point Inn, located within the Ku-ring-gai National Park.
The proposal includes the demolition of the restaurant and the redevelopment of its surrounds to make way for the construction of restaurants, and two-storey dwelling houses.
Locals have raised their concerns and are calling on the Northern Beaches Council to not give the green light to the project.
Paul Reitberger has lived in Cottage Point for years. He says he is concerned the plan will impact not only the peaceful life of the residents, but will endanger the wildlife and lands of the Ku-ring-gai National Park.
“This development application lacks any consideration for the immediate neighbours, community, location, safety, and environment as well as the historical significance of the area and the Cottage Point Inn,” he says.
“The Cottage Point Inn is regarded by visitors worldwide as a fine-dining, unobtrusive and enchanting waterside venue nestled in its surroundings.
“The continued devastation, once in operation, will ensure that Cottage Point will never again be a haven for the enormous variety of wildlife that we enjoy today. The environment is invaluable and irreplaceable.”
The development application, submitted by XPACE Design Group Pty Ltd, states the intention is to revitalise the area, giving a modern look to the Cottage Inn building while ‘setting it back further from the foreshore to mitigate any future impacts to a new built form near the waterway’.
The DA also maintains that the policies and actions of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Plan of Management have been addressed, and that it seeks to remove currently built form encroachments on National Parks and Wildlife Service Land.
The Cottage Point Inn has been part of Pittwater since the 1950s. From a boat house, general store, and post office for the community, the inn became fully operational with a restaurant in 1974.
The developer did not respond with comment by time of publication.