Background

In May of 2004, Warringah Coucil received the original proposal for the development of a "retirement resort" in the Oxford Falls Valley. Upon public advertising of this massive proposal (details of which were available on Warringah's website - now on the Internet Archive) the Oxford Falls Action Group (OFAG) was formed to ensure that the development proposal was rejected.

The "little piece of the Gold Coast in Oxford Falls Valley" had a short public airing before it was withdrawn by the developer ( not before serious questions were raised about the suitability of the development for the area). During this period, OFAG was able to organise a segment on ABC's Stateline that highlighted the ongoings in this matter and our attempts to have the development stopped.
See the transcript.

Model of the originally proposed six storey development!
Source: Warringah Council

Six months later the developer was back - this time with a modified, but still outrageous plan. Over a period of four months, the DA passed through the Council's Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel and took a large number of submissions in relation to its inappropriate nature. On a stormy evening in March 2005 members of the community attended a Council meeting held in Terrey Hills and were pleased when Council rejected the proposal.

In May of 2005, the NSW State Government introduced new legislation allowing developments of "State Significance" to be taken directly to the Planning Minister for review. While the developer of the resort had last claimed in the press (at the time the last DA was rejected) that he intended to take the matter before the Land and Environment Court, he instead chose to raise the matter with Frank Sartor, who on December 1st 2005, determined that the development should be reviewed by the Department of Planning (we're still wondering on that decision).

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