Group ride at Kurnell Boarding Stables and Riding School on Saturday morning. Picture by Murray Trembath
The future of Kurnell Boarding Stables and Riding School remains unclear as plans for the major new housing development on the peninsula undergo final assessment.
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Horse riding on land between Captain Cook Drive and Quibray Bay has been a popular attraction for thousands of families for half a century.
Housing is no longer proposed for this area in the revised Planning Proposal for the new suburb called Bidhiinja Beach.
'We hope they will be here for years to come': Kurnell stables future under cloud
It is proposed the area will be zoned RE2 Private Recreation, with additional permitted uses of schools and places of public worship.
Duncan McComb, chief executive of development company Holt Estate 1861, told the Leader, "We haven't made a decision on the future of the land adjoining Quibray Bay (Lot 2 North)".
Kristen Kenny and Lyndal Marr, who are accomplished riders and enjoy competing at local equestrian events with their children, have operated the stables and riding school on the leased land since 2004.
Charlie Toner, 19, of Jannali, with her horse Moses. Picture by Murray Trembath
They began riding at the stables when they were children and spent a lot of their teenage years volunteering to pick up after the horses and manage pony rides while looking after their own horses.
Ms Marr said they had no insight into the future of the stables "but, we hope they will be here for years to come".
"This is our life, our passion," she said. "We love the horses and the families and kids who have come through here over the years.
"I think it's a really great service for the community, as well as supporting people from a lot of different backgrounds.
"Many of our customers rode here when they were children and are now bringing back their own kids or grandkids."
Charlie Toner, 19, of Jannali, and her mother Leanne said they would be "devastated" if the stables closed.
Charlie has been riding at Kurnell since she was 11 and it is her main sport. She has just started studying equine science at university.
Plans for Bidhiinja Beach include 4300 new homes in buildings from four to 12 storeys, to be built in stages over 20 years, with the first 920 to be delivered between 2027-29.
The public exhibition of the planning proposal closed on May 11. Cronulla MP Mark Speakman said he did not receive a response to a request to extend the exhibition period.
Group ride at Kurnell Boarding Stables and Riding School on Saturday morning. Picture by Murray Trembath
Sutherland Shire Council says, while this is a state government-led planning process, "we will prepare a formal submission including the likely impact on transport infrastructure, environmental management, conflict with existing land uses, emergency service access to the site and the provision of essential community infrastructure".
Proposed stages of the development:
2026 - 2027: Early infrastructure.
2027 - 2036: About 2200 homes, retail facilities and open space, new surf life saving club, public car park, two hotels, traffic signals at Elouera Road and Captain Cook Drive intersection, drainage and stormwater improvement works.
2036 - 2045: About 2100 homes, tourism cabins, two more hotels, widening of Captain Cook Drive, an additional public car park, additional open space, and retail in the Bate Bay Precinct.

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