A?LARGE housing development proposed for Burradoo is one step closer to realisation.
Council has given Crighton Properties Pty Ltd the green light to determine if there is enough public support for the development.
It could see up to 400 homes built on land bordered by Eridge Park Road and the Wingecarribee River.
All but Cr Mauger voted at the last Council meeting to support the community consultation period, aimed at further developing the concept for the proposed ‘Sutherland Park’ development.
Once completed, the concept will be submitted to Council for consideration before being assessed by the NSW Department of Planning.
Crighton Properties’ director of planning Peter Childs said the proposed parkland precinct would be an Australian-first.
“It’s a new type of development and has never been done before in Australia as far as we are aware to date, and very few places around the world,” Mr Childs said.
“What we are proposing is what we call a home-based business park so, for all intents and purposes, it looks like a residential environment but is geared up around home-based businesses.
“This project will also provide a strong boost to the economy of the Southern Highlands by creating jobs through construction, the establishment of new businesses, education and by specifically facilitating the ‘work from home’ revolution.”
Cr Mauger said he was against considering any development of the site until a detailed flood study was completed.
“I don’t believe we should consider it whatsoever,” he said.
“That flood study should involve the proposition that the Wingecarribee Dam is under threat of collapsing. There is a report that has not come out on this which I have requested - so how can we consider this when anyone who moves there could end up under water?”
He was also worried the development would take away green space.
“I am concerned by up to 500 homes being built there. We had a situation with the Pepperfields development which was meant to be a one-off and now we’ve got this proposal right next door to it - we are eating up green space all the time,” Mr Mauger said.
Mr Childs said the area’s susceptibility to flooding was being consideredin a preliminary flood analysis.
“We are quite confident when a detailed flood report is done, which can only be done in response to state government directions, it will lay within the area we have already identified as flood-prone,”?he said.
Mr Childs said the density proposed for the site would evolve during the community consultation phase.
“Council has reported an expected 350 to 400 residences,” Mr Child said.
“I don’t think council was too far from the mark but it might even end up much smaller than that at the end of the day - time will tell as we go through the process.
“It’s current zoning means it can be cut up into four-hectare lots and those lots can be developed as a rural resident subdivision, with no open space provided.
“What we are trying to do is earmark an area that would be appropriate to reinforce that greenbelt and we are suggesting a park that is 100 acres in size or 40 hectares approximately.”
As a condition of approving the consultation, Council retained an option to refuse to enter into the gateway process if the community does not support rezoning the land for the proposed development.
Tell us what you think, write to the News, PO?Box 109 Bowral NSW?2576.
Email a friend