I FIND it unacceptable that Councillor Ian Scandrett used his casting vote to advise the Department of Planning that council does not support the rezoning at Coomungie, Yarrawa Road, Moss Vale, to allow affordable housing.
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As he lives a very short distance from Coomungie and would have a non-pecuniary interest, there are plenty of precedents to support this view.
Chelsea Gardens/Coomungie is an opportunity to deliver affordable land to the young people who would like to establish themselves near their extended families.
The pressure on young families to earn money means that the land not only be affordable but they prefer small lots as they live very busy lives and both work. They need to be able to relax when opportunity arises.
With smaller blocks the return is greater to a developer who then can be required to pay a very substantial voluntary planning agreement which could be used to solve the Whyte's creek problem in Moss Vale.
Severe planning conditions would endure a large amount of 'on-site' water retention.
A larger rate base for council would help ongoing road maintenance.
All three major towns need to have an adequate supply of affordable land with only Nattai Ponds in Mittagong and Darraby at Moss Vale addressing that necessary part of the market.
Because of the topography of Bowral, infill will be necessary (and too expensive), but Mittagong and Moss Vale can have further development without interfering with the lifestyle we all enjoy.
A check of all Real Estate agents in the three towns will reveal there is very little affordable land available now or in the near future while the demand is great. Nattai Ponds has about 50 blocks to be offered and an enquiry list of three times that number.
- Nick Campbell-Jones, Bowral