A group of Highlands residents are breathing a sigh of relief after learning an area of historic significance has been officially gazetted.
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Minister for Planning Rob Stokes approved the Aitken Road heritage and conservation zone listing and it was gazetted on November 6.
The move follows a campaign by residents in the area to save save historically-significant properties - including Grantham and Barkfold - from a wrecking ball.
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One keen campaigner to preserve the site Alexandra Springett described the latest news as "a great win for this shire, a valuable precedent hopefully for other DA processes that could destroy Southern Highland heritage and landscape."
In late 2018 residents in and near the leafy street in 'Old' Bowral learned that the two properties constructed by renowned early 20th century Bowral builder, Alf Stephens, were under threat of being lost in a proposed redevelopment plan.
A development application had been lodged for a residential care facility on a property at 39-41 Aitken Road. This application proposed the demolition of all the buildings on the site and the removal of 37 trees. The 108-bed facility was to be built by Lendlease and operated by Catholic Healthcare.
One of the properties earmarked for development was 'Grantham', home to a historic cricket pitch. This was regularly used by a young Sir Donald Bradman at the invitation of former Bowral mayor and builder Alf Stephens who also lived at Grantham.
Residents and the Bradman Foundation rallied Wingecarribee Shire Council and by January, 2019 council placed an Interim Heritage Order over the property and four of its neighbors.
On July 10, 2019 Wingecarribee councillors voted unanimously to support the permanent heritage listing of Aitken Road in Bowral.
The Development Application for the proposed residential care facility was formally withdrawn by the developer on May 14, 2020.
Mrs Springett was elated with the news that the Aitken Road heritage and conservation zone had officially been gazetted.
She extended a "huge thank you" to all involved in the push to facilitate the heritage and conservation zone listing within Aitken and Kangaloon Roads.
"Well planned, and indeed required development, such as housing, public buildings and spaces, these are probable future requirements. But they should have a well thought out footprint upon the shire, be sympathetic to their surrounds, mindful of local heritage, and minimally destructive of our landscape.
"This recent proposed development plan for Aitken Road had no regard for these protocols, and we can be thankful that it did not proceed."
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