By Phil Herrick

High rise buildings up to 100 metres tall (around 35 floors) and increased commercial activity are the key elements in the draft masterplan for the Batemans Bay CBD about to be put out for public comment by the Eurobodalla Shire Council.

The decision to go ahead and exhibit the draft plan was made at the council meeting in Moruya on Tuesday afternoon. The plan looks at the expected development of the Bay up to 2100.

Increasing the height of buildings is the standout item in the plan, with two 100 metre skyscrapers flanking the highway at the southern end of the bridge.

A cluster of highrise up to 100 metres tall is slated for the old bowling club site opposite the Bay Pavilions. Another group of highrise, also up to 100 metres, is planned around the Soldiers Club, both on the waterfront and near the Water Gardens.

While councillors all seemed to welcome the move to have a masterplan for the Bay there was debate at the council meeting on the need for buildings that tall.

Cr Turner pointed out that a building 100 metres high is bigger than any current building in Wollongong and is just shy of the tallest building in Canberra.

Moruya Business Chamber president Rob Pollock spoke at the public forum and congratulated council on the master plan process and asked plans be immediately prepared for Moruya and Narooma as well.

He told the council the new hospital will bring a growth spurt to Moruya and place increased stress on housing.

He suggested increased building height limits should also be part of Moruya’s future to make sure the CBD of Moruya stays focused and is not broken up by a satellite commercial development, as happened 20 years ago in Batemans Bay with the building of the Stocklands shopping mall.