STALLED redevelopment in the “dead heart” of South Murwillum-bah could take more personal involvement by councillors in planning issues and a change of attitude on flood issues from NSW State Emergency Services.

That’s according to Cr Phil Youngblutt, a past president of the Murwillumbah and District Business Chamber, who along with Cr Warren Polglase has “called up” one development application, a proposal for a reception and conference centre, after it stalled with council planners.

The proposal, put forward by Murwillumbah businessman Craig Dudgeon, is due to be debated at the December council meeting after some staff and at least one councillor tried to convince Mr Dudgeon that dealing with the issues was so complicated he should withdraw his development application.

“Council planners were refusing to accept what he put up,” said Cr Youngblutt.

“But there are always two sides to a story so we called it up to make a decision.

“We want this to go ahead.”

Cr Youngblutt said one of the major problems facing re-development of the Prospero Street precinct, once a busy commercial hub where some buildings have stood vacant for years, was the attitude of the State Emergency Services headquarters in Wollongong to flooding.

Cr Warren Polglase said redevelopment faced a number of issues, but they could all be overcome with council support.

Under the current Local Environment Plan he said multi-storey development could take place in the Prospero Street precinct with car parking underneath and shops and residences above, out of flood level.

Cr Polglase praised Mr Dudgeon adding: “It’s been sitting there for 20 years and everybody has been too frightened to do anything.

“For someone to invest in South Murwillumbah is a brave move because of the flooding issues, but if someone is prepared to do it we should assist them.”