Penrith Mega Homebase is not in dispute with the owner of a prime piece of Dubbo real estate the company wants to develop, John Kosseris says.
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BAWD Property Trust had opposed the plans exhibited for a $53 million shopping and accommodation complex.
But Mr Kosseris this week reported Penrith Mega Homebase was in negotiations with the Dubbo landowner, as the development progressed to the final stage of approval.
Mr Kosseris, husband of Penrith Mega Homebase director Patricia Kosseris, attended Monday night’s Dubbo City Council meeting, which had the development application (DA) on its agenda.
He used the public forum to promote the Riviera Shopping Complex proposed for a parcel of land including the former John Oxley Motel site in Macquarie Street, owned by BAWD, and other lots.
Mr Kosseris also attempted to reassure the chamber that the right-of-carriageway issue between Penrith Mega Homebase and BAWD would be sorted out.
The friction between the two parties was revealed in the council’s business papers - a publicly-available document provided to the Daily Liberal on Friday by the council.
The document contained a submission from BAWD managing director Brett Anderson who stated he would defend its “property rights vigorously”.
On Monday Mr Kosseris said Penrith Mega Homebase had been negotiating with BAWD property group and he anticipated an amicable outcome shortly.
The one-time developer of the former Dubbo RAAF Base said he had a letter from BAWD that he wished to table.
Council rules prevented him from doing so.
Later when the DA came up Cr Reynolds and Cr Shields, as representatives on the Western Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP), declared significant interests and left the room for the debate’s duration.
Cr Keith Harris cited a pecuniary interest and also exited the chamber.
Cr Allan Smith moved that the report on the DA be noted and submitted to the JRPP for determination subject to the more than 120 conditions attached.
Staff had dealt with it, it was “highly conditioned”, and it was just a matter of approving the notation for it to go forward, he said.
Mayor Mathew Dickerson congratulated environmental services director Melissa Watkins and technical services director Stewart McLeod for their efficient work.
The motion was carried unanimously and the DA will go to the JRPP.
The DA seeks consent to demolish a number of existing structures and to erect a building containing commercial premises, shop-top housing, serviced apartments, hotel or motel accommodation and associated vehicle parking areas.
Lodged in April the DA was originally valued at $40 million but when asked to justify this Penrith Mega Homebase provided a revised estimated value of works of $53 million a council spokeswoman said yesterday.
faye.wheeler@ruralpress.com