Sanderling
Hawks Nest
Residential development
Community engagement and Social Impact Assessment
Case study
Client.
Core Property Developments and Leric Group
Services.
Description.
The Sanderling Hawks Nest development is a proposed multi storey residential apartment project on Sanderling Avenue between Bennetts Beach and Hawks Nest Golf Club. The proposal includes three residential buildings delivering around 104 homes and is progressing through the NSW State Significant Development planning process, requiring community and stakeholder engagement to support the Environmental Impact Statement.
Given the sensitivity of the coastal location and existing community concerns, Mara was engaged to lead consultation and prepare a Social Impact Assessment in line with NSW guidelines, ensuring community feedback and potential impacts were clearly identified and addressed.
Engagement approach.
The proposed development generated significant community concern and high levels of stakeholder interest. Located in a sensitive coastal environment, in an area with high levels of short-term accommodation had a long history of contention, the proposal was highly debated.
Through structured engagement, social research and targeted interviews, we identified key concerns, community values and potential social impacts. The process ensured issues were clearly documented and addressed through the EIS, strengthening the project and reducing planning risk, demonstrating that concerns were heard and considered in a credible and systematic way.
The program met SSD consultation requirements and strengthened the EIS with clear, evidence based insights, helping reduce planning risk for a historically contentious site.
Outcomes
Other projects
Dungog Common Recreational Reserve Strategic Plan
Client: Dungog Common Recreation Reserve Board.
Project type: Government
Services: Strategic plan development, workshop design and facilitation, materials and outcomes report.
​
​
Hunter Transmission Project
Client: EnergyCo NSW
Project type: Government, energy, infrastructure
Services: Stakeholder engagement strategy, Aboriginal engagement, communications, marketing, advertising, event management, media and issues management, place management and landowner liaison, government relations & ministerial communication.
​
​
​
Newcastle Grammar School
Client: Newcastle Grammar School
Project type: Property development
Services: Community and stakeholder engagement, social impact assessment and strategic communications.
​
Hunter River Estuary Wastewater Masterplan
Client: Hunter Water Corporation
Project type: Environment
Services: Strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, scenario planning, regulatory consultation, community and government relations
​
​