NSW Rural Fire Service opposes seniors retirement project
The Rural Fire Service (RFS) has objected to a seniors’ living development earmarked for bushfire-prone land in North Turramurra.
The owner of The Landings retirement village on Bobbin Head Road recently sought approval to build 58 apartments in addition to the 180 homes already onsite. But the RFS has recommended the council reject the development.
The retirement village borders the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and lies in the heartland of a high risk bushfire-prone area designated as such by the RFS in 2002.
Cameron Wade from the RFS said the legislation had been introduced to ensure appropriate development near bushland areas.
“We have lost too many homes because they are next to bush and were not built suitably,” he said.
As recently as this February, fires from Mt Ku-ring-gai were headed towards North Turramurra and only stopped by a change in wind direction.
The development application is still being assessed by council staff, and the RFS recommendations will be influential in the final decision.
