A PLANNING proposal seeking to reduce the minimum lot size for a rural lifestyle development on Mountain Ash Road will be forwarded to the Department of Planning and Environment for determination.
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The proposal, submitted by CJS Planning Services on behalf of local developer Neville Burrows, requested amendment of the Goulburn Mulwaree LEP 2009 to reduce lot sizes from 13 existing rural lots to some 134 smaller subdivided lots on the land once earmarked for the Southern Distribution Hub.
Effectively this would take the 277 hectares and split it into as little as two hectares a piece, in similar vein to Run-O-Waters estate.
Going against planners recommendations to not proceed with the proposal, Councillors Robin Saville and Bob Kirk on Tuesday successfully moved in support of the planning proposal, on the proviso a Gateway Determination is requested from State Planning.
“Initially I was against this development, but I thought about it a lot and I’ve decided to oppose the recommendation and support (the project),” Cr Saville said.
“I think it’s in the interest of Goulburn and I’d like to see that development.”
Cr Kirk agreed.
“I will speak against the recommendation because like Cr Saville, I have swung to and from and here to there and back again. It seems to be we have a LEP in need of review and a strategy that needs to be assessed,” he said.
“My initial reaction was they were jumping the queue but now I think they have showed initiative.”
Mr Burrows’ daughter Judy Micallef explained the decision further: “This is the land previously known as the Hub which was approved for the Southern Distribution Centre. It is currently zoned rural which does not allow for five acre lots to be created. Our application sought Council’s support for a proposal for five acre rural residential lots,” Ms Micallef said.
“Our Company has sold over 130 x five acre lots in the Run-OWaters and Meadows subdivisions.
“We have a demonstrated need for five acre lots. There is a significant need for small rural residential lots to be created and this land is ideally situated to provide for local families wishing to live on small acreage close to town.”
Ms Micallef continued, explaining that in Council requesting a Gateway Determination they are effectively asking for the application to be reviewed by the State Planning department rather than reviewing the Goulburn Mulwaree strategic plan.
“Normally this occurs when Council reviews its Strategic Plan for the city and identifies areas of land that could be suitable for further expansion of the city’s needs. This review is then sent to State Planning for their comment and approval… “This resolution will expedite the process, hence the term “Gateway”, because rather than waiting until the Strategic Plan is reviewed and subsequently gazetted, the proposal will be determined at the State Planning level, potentially allowing the supply of small rural lots in a much quicker timeframe.”
