Rodney Stevens

The unsightly remains of former popular Yamba seafood establishment Gorman’s Big Oyster Restaurant is set to be demolished and redeveloped with the owner preparing a development application DA for the site.

The site of the former restaurant, which had been closed for several years, was sold at auction on September 5, 2020, with the property going under the hammer for $2,005,000.

The property was purchased by a private company, Swell 77 Pty Ltd, which is based in the southern Sydney suburb of Caringbah.

According to council documents, Swell 77 Pty Ltd is also behind the development of 17 three and four bedroom units at 6 Yamba Road, which were approved by council at the March 2023 meeting.

A council spokesperson said the property owner had informed council that a development application DA is being prepared and will be submitted pending the granting of the relevant owner’s consent.

The spokesperson said preparation of a DA for redevelopment of the site is more complex than a typical site due to several factors:

The land is landlocked by the surrounding Hickey Island Reserve, and it has no legal access to Harbour Street.

The Hickey Island Reserve is Crown land owned by the NSW State Government, meaning consent from Crown Lands is required to traverse the Hickey Island Reserve to access the land.

The Yaegl People have been granted non-exclusive native title rights and interests by the Federal Court over the Hickey Island Reserve.

The adjoining land parcel to the north of the Gorman’s site is owned by the Birrigan Gargle Local Aboriginal Land Council, requiring their consent as well if any part of their land needs to be accessed as part of the demolition or redevelopment.  

Clarence Valley Council Manager Development and Land Use Planning, Murray Lane, said Council’s involvement and powers are limited, as Council does not own the site or the adjoining land.

“Council does have powers to require demolition of a building if it is likely to become a danger to the public or is so dilapidated that it is harmful to persons or property in a neighbourhood,” Mr Lane said.

“Given the ongoing dilapidation of the building and that a development application is yet to be made for the site’s redevelopment, Council staff have commenced discussions with the landowner about the demolition of the old Gorman’s Restaurant.”

The CV Independent will report more on the DA when it is lodged with council by the developer.