An unprecedented planning shortcut threatens to override critical environmental protections and permanently change the Blue Mountains as we know it.

The NSW Government’s new Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) is being used to fast-track housing developments. For the first time in the Blue Mountains, a developer is seeking approval under this pathway for a large-scale, high-density project at 142–150 Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba - a proposal that far exceeds the limits set in the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP).

The proposal is to rezone land to allow:

• 9 x four-storey residential buildings containing 214 residential apartments
• 52 serviced apartments
• three restaurants and an internet cafe
• a wellness and arts hub incorporating a wellness centre
• conference facilities and an art gallery
• considerable on-site parking.

This was approved as a State Significant Development and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure issued its Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) in June 2025. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is currently being prepared but will only be on exhibition for 14 days.

The Society supports appropriate housing that aligns with local planning rules and the Blue Mountains LEP. This proposal, however, sets a dangerous precedent for our community and our future.

Key concerns include:

• Inappropriate planning pathway - The HDA process overrides critical LEP protections that have been developed over 30 years to safeguard the Mountains’ environment and heritage.
• Bushfire risk - High-density, multi-storey housing in an already high-risk bushfire zone increases evacuation challenges and puts lives at risk.
• Environmental damage - Paving over pervious surfaces, increasing stormwater runoff and disrupts ecosystems, undermining the ecological values that underpin our World Heritage listing.
• Loss of character - Dense, multi-storey blocks would irreversibly change the leafy character streetscapes and heritage character that make the Blue Mountains unique.
• Economic consequences - Tourism relies on our natural environment and village character. If these are eroded, so too is the foundation of our local economy.

This is not just about one development. If the HDA pathway is allowed to proceed in the Blue Mountains, it opens the door for similar high-density projects across our towns - potentially changing the region forever.