Goulburn Mulwaree Council residential plan sparks questions

But already, its plan to subdivide a 4.6 hectare block it owns off Hovell Street and behind Finlay Road into 29 housing blocks is raising nearby industry fears.

Craig Maddren, who owns Finlay Court, an eight-unit industrial premises on Finlay Road, says complaints from residents building on the blocks will inevitably arise down the track.

"I can't understand why you would sell off a buffer zone," he said, referring to the long-vacant block.

"The whole idea of having a buffer is to reduce industrial noise. In this area we have manufacturing, trucks coming and going day and night from a freight business, a concreter, welders, grinders going and on top of that, it's a B-double route."

Mr Maddren also runs his Signage One business from Finlay Road.

He feared the council would create another "Lansdowne Street," situation. He was referring to recent controversy over a residential subdivision that sparked concerns from nearby industry and led to a council land zoning compromise last week.

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Like those business owners, Mr Maddren worried that noise complaints from residents could result in operating hours being restricted.

He pointed to further potential industrial development in the area with the old saleyards site opposite and a section of vacant woolstore on Hovell Street. Industrial lots have also been sold behind the saleyards.

"I'd rather not have it (the subdivision) because I know the problems that we'll have," Mr Maddren said.

"...I never really thought housing would be built there. We were always told it was a buffer zone and that made perfect sense to me."

His business has been located in Finlay Road since about 2003. Mr Maddren said industry there should be allowed to continued operation as "we were here first."

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He acknowledged that he and other owners who have voiced concerns did not lodge objections to the planning proposal for the land's rezoning from RE1 public recreation to general residential, or a development control plan, both of which were publicly exhibited.

Council general manager Warwick Bennett has rejected comparisons to Lansdowne Street.

"There will be no conflict because the reality is the (subdivision) map shows a significant vegetation buffer between residential and industrial," he said.

He was referring to a stand of trees behind the premises and plans for further landscaping. This area will also act as a stormwater reserve, addressing drainage concerns.

Councillors at their most recent meeting agreed on changes to the development control plan, in part to address industrial/residential conflict raised by a local resident.

Each development application will need to include "a high level of noise mitigation" measures and an acoustic report.

Planners argue the 1000 square metre lots and a 1450sqm public open space reserve will also minimise conflict.

Mr Bennett said the council opted to develop rather than sell the land.

"We wanted to create a development that suits the area and demonstrates how we want residential subdivisions to look in Goulburn Mulwaree," he said.

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It will include 20-metre wide roads, "plenty of trees," pedestrian access to a laneway, and site coverage will be limited to 40 per cent to reduce stormwater run-off and the "heat island effect."

Covenants will prevent semi-detached, dual occupancy or multi-unit housing.

The council expects lots to sell for $190,000 to $220,000 and to reap a $2.8 million to $3m net profit. Mr Bennett said the money could be channeled into projects like the Goulburn Aquatic Centre redevelopment.

Business cases will be compiled on Hovell Street and another proposed council residential subdivision at its Taralga Road former irrigation farm. They would examine whether the council or an agent should be lead developer.

In the meantime, additional ecological and environmental and studies are being undertaken. One includes identification of any legless lizards on the site and another on heritage grasses.

"There's a lot of preparation work to do but we hope to have physical works started by the third quarter of next year and to be selling lots by early 2020," Mr Bennett said.

The land was identified as surplus in a council recreational needs strategy. Councillors agreed to reclassify a section of the block to operational land in June, 2019, paving the way for development and sale.

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The planning proposal rezoning it to R1 general residential is currently before the state government.

Mr Bennett expected it to be relatively straightforward given there was little community objection.

Meantime, Mayor Bob Kirk said there were many examples of industrial and residential co-existing throughout Goulburn and it was a matter of managing any conflicts.

"It has to happen somewhere and you can't stop property being developed within its entitlements," he said.

The Mayor believed the Finlay Road buffer was adequate and said any objections would be dealt with as part of the DA process.

He told The Post that another residential developments was proposed close to Lansdowne Street, at the back of Cathcart Street.

"It (any conflict) has to be managed," Cr Kirk said.

"People go in with their eyes wide open, well aware of what they're buying into."

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