Katoomba Leura Online

Following on from our earlier post on the debacle where BMCC had at least $11m invested with failed investment house Grange Securities, part of the bankrupt Lehman Brothers bank that was one of the biggest casualties of the global financial crisis.

The SMH reports that a class action of councils has been successful in a legal attempt to apply to Lehman Brothers administrators for recognition of their claims. In short, instead of being paid as little as 5c in the dollar, BMCC may realise a little more. Katoomba Leura Online understands the large anticipated loss has yet to be fully recognised in BMCC financial results, so future rate rises may be on the way.

The Western Regional Planning Panel met yesterday to discuss the Woolworths development on the old Colless site in Leura Mall.

The business paper presented gives the latest info on the proposal for a 1400sqm super market plus speciality shops (by comparison, Katoomba ALDI is about 1200sqm).

The key message from council is the revised development is head and shoulders over the previously approved retail/residential multi-story development on which building work has now ceased. The revised Woolworths proposal retains the two historic shops (currently Goodies supermarket) and adds three new shops on the Mall in keeping with the surrounding premises.

Entry to the supermarket will be from a corridor running from the Mall to the car park, or via a ramp up from the proposed below ground parking. There appear still to be some issues around signage, traffic and trolleys, which should be scrutinised based on the experience of previous developments where “nothing could be done” once building was complete.

Whether a major supermarket open 7am to 10pm will be a benefit to Leura is highly questionable, but at least the new proposal looks a little more in keeping with the township.

View from The Mall

This article popped up in a search, and even though it is a couple of years old, I thought I would post it as it is quite a nice overview on the Cittaslow movement in the mountains (link is to WA Today as I can’t find it on SMH). It has several interviews and references to locals like Hominy Bakery, Logan Brae Orchard and the Co-Op at Katoomba. Read it here.