Pittwater Life April 2018 Issue

News
Legal eagles have eyes on Pasadena
Northern Beaches Council has stepped
up its campaign to compulsorily
acquire the rapidly transforming Pasadena
property at Church Point, engaging a
specialist legal team to assist the process
and provide specialist planning and
valuation advice.
Council’s move coincides with the
completion of the compulsory six-months
timeline for negotiations with the owner,
opening the door for the next stage of the
complex acquisition process.
Council resolved to commence
negotiations to acquire the Pasadena site
for community use on August 8 last year;
sources told Pittwater Life that by law,
compulsory acquisition cannot commence
until at least six months of negotiations
have been undertaken between the parties.
Council’s General Manager Environment
and Infrastructure Ben Taylor confirmed
the recruitment of the specialist legal
team, adding: “If council are unable to
reach agreement with the current owner,
we intend to proceed with a compulsory
purchase with the aim of returning the
waterfront site to the public for open space
as well as providing suitable building/s to
accentuate public use of the area.”
As for the current renovations being
undertaken by the owners of Pasadena,
including works that would deliver a
restaurant and boutique accommodation,
Council’s General Manager Planning,
Place and Community David Kerr said
construction was based on a 1963 Approval
for which a recent Construction Certificate
had been obtained by a Private Certifier.
He added: “Council will engage with the
community and undertake a masterplan
for the area once the outcome of the
compulsory acquisition is determined.”
Pittwater Life has sought comment
from the owners of Pasadena on several
occasions over past months.
Meanwhile, at the Council’s meeting on February
27, councillors unanimously resolved
to support the concept of a boardwalk on the
‘missing link’ on the Bayview / Church Point
walkway, requesting staff prepare them a
briefing note this month on an approximate
cost for inclusion in the 2018/19 or 2019/20
budgets, as well as any grants which might be
available for the project. – Nigel Wall
20 APRIL 2018
The Local Voice Since 1991