The council will seek to have Captain Cook Drive duplicated before, or at the same time as, the early stages of the development. Picture by John Veage

Sutherland Shire Council will support community calls for Captain Cook Drive to be duplicated before, or at the same time as, the early stages of the Kurnell peninsula housing development.

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The council will also seek to have Captain Cook Drive reclassified as a State Road, public transport upgraded and protection of the area occupied by the horse stables from inappropriate development.

Other "essential" requirements, which the council will advocate for if the proposal goes ahead, include:

• Strengthened environmental zoning and long-term protection mechanisms for ecological corridors and wetland areas.
  
• Further refinement of flood evacuation and emergency management arrangements, and
  
• Clarification of long-term infrastructure ownership, governance and maintenance responsibilities.

Artist's impression of the Kurnell peninsula development. Picture supplied

Council staff have prepared a draft submission in response to the recent public exhibition of plans for about 4300 homes in 210 hectares around Boat Harbour.

The draft submission may be fine tuned by the Planning Committee and full council in June.

The inadequacy of Captain Cook Drive to cater for the proposed development was highlighted by Kurnell residents after the road was closed to traffic three times in April this year, including after a car caught fire near Marang Parklands on April 20.

Captain Cook Drive was closed to traffic three times in April this year, including after a car caught fire near Marang Parklands on April 20. Picture supplied

A council report said the site had limited access to high-frequency public transport services and did not align with established State transit-oriented development principles.

"The proposal is expected to generate a substantial increase in traffic affecting Captain Cook Drive and the wider Sutherland Shire road network," the report said.

"Duplication of Captain Cook Drive is proposed to occur at Stage 3 (approximately 2036), by which time a substantial proportion of the dwelling yield would already be occupied.

"Major city-shaping transport infrastructure, including the M6 corridor, is outside the scope of the proposal."

The report said a community sentiment survey commissioned by the council indicated limited support for the proposal as exhibited, with transport impacts, infrastructure timing and development scale identified as key considerations.

The council will offer to enter into a planning agreement with the developer for infrastructure and community facilities.

The final decision on whether the proposal goes ahead will be made by Planning Minister Paul Scully, based on a recommendation from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

Artist's impression of the Kurnell peninsula development. Picture supplied

Biggest rezoning since Menai

The council report said the proposal was "the most substantial rezoning process considered within Sutherland Shire since the release of Menai in the 1980s".

"Zoning of the broader Kurnell Peninsula was last comprehensively addressed through the Sydney Regional Environmental Plan - Kurnell Peninsula 1989, which followed the 1986 Woodward Inquiry into the future use of the peninsula," the report said.

"The 1989 plan contemplated the cessation of sand mining activities and the rehabilitation of mined land for light industrial and tourism purposes.

"Permanent residential development is currently not permitted on this land.

"The plan also recognised the need for foreshore land dedication and acknowledged the environmental constraints and sensitivities of the peninsula.

"The current proposal has been under consideration for several years. In September 2023, a Planning Scoping Proposal was lodged with Council, followed by pre-lodgement consultation with relevant government agencies."

The report said a formal Planning Proposal was lodged with the council in January 2024, but later that year it was declared State Significant development and the DPHI became the responsible planning authority for assessment and advancement.