The look of the new Woolworths development and its proximity to the footpath on Main Street, Merimbula was the subject of questions at the council meeting on Wednesday, April 11.
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Councillor Mitchell Nadin called it a “10m high monolith”.
“This has been a long time coming but my question is when was the Rawson development given approval to build virtually on the footpath. Why was there no setback?”
Director community, environment and planning Anthony Basford said he would have to take the question on notice.
“In a country town like this there is not a lot of high density development and buildings having a street front like that is an intimidating look,” Cr Nadin said after the meeting.
He wanted to know from staff what could be done to mitigate the overbearing look and soften the exterior.
“It’s on the northern side and so in winter the shadow line will go across the street,” he added.
He said there had been a lost opportunity to improve the design earlier in the process and said that at Bermagui where there had been a strong voice against the Woolworths development “the town talked with the developer and got a better look”.
Cr Nadin said that having designs like this which are put out for consultation can be problematic as it could be difficult for the general public to envisage how a design on paper might appear in reality.
The News Weekly understands that there will be aluminium and brick cladding used on the fascia and has been told that there will be landscaping – to the value of about $30,000 - along the front of the building and in the ground level car park.
The roof is expected to be on by mid May with a handover to Woolworths in September prior to the opening in November.