a day ago
'Extremely difficult to swallow': developer's frustration at decision to preserve urban bushland
The state government has declared it wants to save the vast majority of a parcel of bushland on Newcastle's outskirts for conservation rather than housing.
In a landmark decision that went against an Independent Planning Commission recommendation, only a small section of 505 Minmi Road at Fletcher will be built on.
Under the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's rezoning determination released on Friday, about 3.6 hectares (just under 15 per cent) of the 26-hectare site has been zoned for residential use.
It represents a reduction of 9.7 hectares from what was originally proposed.
It is estimated that the rezoned land could be used to build 35 to 40 lots compared to the 180 lots originally proposed.
The area zoned for environmental conservation has increased from 12.98 hectares to 22.7 hectares.
Peter Durbin, who bought the site 23 years ago with a view to developing it, expressed "disappointment and frustration" at the determination, which he said flew in the face of the state government's push to build more housing.
"We requested a six-week extension from the department so we could apply under Freedom of Information to get the koala habitat data from the council. We believe the koala habitat is a great distance away from our property, but obviously, we can't prove that until we see that (data)," he said.
"The council denied our application, and so did the department. To request a six-week extension so that we get an opportunity to use the documents that have put a nail in the coffin after 23 years doesn't seem like much of a request to me, but they denied it. We find that extremely difficult to swallow."
Residents who have been campaigning for the site to be used as a green corridor and City of Newcastle celebrated the department's determination.
"This is a great day for urban conservation in Newcastle, but it is also the final milestone for the Green Corridor Coalition, which set itself the very ambitious task of connecting together all national parks in the Lower Hunter to form the 65-kilometre-long Stockton Bight to Watagans Regional Biodiversity Corridor, with the regional park corridor being a prominent part of our 2003 vision statement," lead community campaigner Brian Purdue said.
Mr Durbin said he was considering the implications of the rezoning on his plans for the site.
In addition, he had written to Planning Minister Paul Scully to express his concern about the rezoning process; however, he had not received a response.
"The Department of Planning was pushing hard to get housing in the area and all of a sudden it changed and we don't know why," he said.
"They can say it's because of the koala, but if they really wanted housing, they would let us have a look at the report and comment on that, but they won't."
The state government has declared it wants to save the vast majority of a parcel of bushland on Newcastle's outskirts for conservation rather than housing.
In a landmark decision that went against an Independent Planning Commission recommendation, only a small section of 505 Minmi Road at Fletcher will be built on.
Under the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's rezoning determination released on Friday, about 3.6 hectares (just under 15 per cent) of the 26-hectare site has been zoned for residential use.
It represents a reduction of 9.7 hectares from what was originally proposed.
It is estimated that the rezoned land could be used to build 35 to 40 lots compared to the 180 lots originally proposed.
The area zoned for environmental conservation has increased from 12.98 hectares to 22.7 hectares.
Peter Durbin, who bought the site 23 years ago with a view to developing it, expressed "disappointment and frustration" at the determination, which he said flew in the face of the state government's push to build more housing.
"We requested a six-week extension from the department so we could apply under Freedom of Information to get the koala habitat data from the council. We believe the koala habitat is a great distance away from our property, but obviously, we can't prove that until we see that (data)," he said.
"The council denied our application, and so did the department. To request a six-week extension so that we get an opportunity to use the documents that have put a nail in the coffin after 23 years doesn't seem like much of a request to me, but they denied it. We find that extremely difficult to swallow."
Residents who have been campaigning for the site to be used as a green corridor and City of Newcastle celebrated the department's determination.
"This is a great day for urban conservation in Newcastle, but it is also the final milestone for the Green Corridor Coalition, which set itself the very ambitious task of connecting together all national parks in the Lower Hunter to form the 65-kilometre-long Stockton Bight to Watagans Regional Biodiversity Corridor, with the regional park corridor being a prominent part of our 2003 vision statement," lead community campaigner Brian Purdue said.
Mr Durbin said he was considering the implications of the rezoning on his plans for the site.
In addition, he had written to Planning Minister Paul Scully to express his concern about the rezoning process; however, he had not received a response.
"The Department of Planning was pushing hard to get housing in the area and all of a sudden it changed and we don't know why," he said.
"They can say it's because of the koala, but if they really wanted housing, they would let us have a look at the report and comment on that, but they won't."
The state government has declared it wants to save the vast majority of a parcel of bushland on Newcastle's outskirts for conservation rather than housing.
In a landmark decision that went against an Independent Planning Commission recommendation, only a small section of 505 Minmi Road at Fletcher will be built on.
Under the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's rezoning determination released on Friday, about 3.6 hectares (just under 15 per cent) of the 26-hectare site has been zoned for residential use.
It represents a reduction of 9.7 hectares from what was originally proposed.
It is estimated that the rezoned land could be used to build 35 to 40 lots compared to the 180 lots originally proposed.
The area zoned for environmental conservation has increased from 12.98 hectares to 22.7 hectares.
Peter Durbin, who bought the site 23 years ago with a view to developing it, expressed "disappointment and frustration" at the determination, which he said flew in the face of the state government's push to build more housing.
"We requested a six-week extension from the department so we could apply under Freedom of Information to get the koala habitat data from the council. We believe the koala habitat is a great distance away from our property, but obviously, we can't prove that until we see that (data)," he said.
"The council denied our application, and so did the department. To request a six-week extension so that we get an opportunity to use the documents that have put a nail in the coffin after 23 years doesn't seem like much of a request to me, but they denied it. We find that extremely difficult to swallow."
Residents who have been campaigning for the site to be used as a green corridor and City of Newcastle celebrated the department's determination.
"This is a great day for urban conservation in Newcastle, but it is also the final milestone for the Green Corridor Coalition, which set itself the very ambitious task of connecting together all national parks in the Lower Hunter to form the 65-kilometre-long Stockton Bight to Watagans Regional Biodiversity Corridor, with the regional park corridor being a prominent part of our 2003 vision statement," lead community campaigner Brian Purdue said.
Mr Durbin said he was considering the implications of the rezoning on his plans for the site.
In addition, he had written to Planning Minister Paul Scully to express his concern about the rezoning process; however, he had not received a response.
"The Department of Planning was pushing hard to get housing in the area and all of a sudden it changed and we don't know why," he said.
"They can say it's because of the koala, but if they really wanted housing, they would let us have a look at the report and comment on that, but they won't."
The state government has declared it wants to save the vast majority of a parcel of bushland on Newcastle's outskirts for conservation rather than housing.
In a landmark decision that went against an Independent Planning Commission recommendation, only a small section of 505 Minmi Road at Fletcher will be built on.
Under the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's rezoning determination released on Friday, about 3.6 hectares (just under 15 per cent) of the 26-hectare site has been zoned for residential use.
It represents a reduction of 9.7 hectares from what was originally proposed.
It is estimated that the rezoned land could be used to build 35 to 40 lots compared to the 180 lots originally proposed.
The area zoned for environmental conservation has increased from 12.98 hectares to 22.7 hectares.
Peter Durbin, who bought the site 23 years ago with a view to developing it, expressed "disappointment and frustration" at the determination, which he said flew in the face of the state government's push to build more housing.
"We requested a six-week extension from the department so we could apply under Freedom of Information to get the koala habitat data from the council. We believe the koala habitat is a great distance away from our property, but obviously, we can't prove that until we see that (data)," he said.
"The council denied our application, and so did the department. To request a six-week extension so that we get an opportunity to use the documents that have put a nail in the coffin after 23 years doesn't seem like much of a request to me, but they denied it. We find that extremely difficult to swallow."
Residents who have been campaigning for the site to be used as a green corridor and City of Newcastle celebrated the department's determination.
"This is a great day for urban conservation in Newcastle, but it is also the final milestone for the Green Corridor Coalition, which set itself the very ambitious task of connecting together all national parks in the Lower Hunter to form the 65-kilometre-long Stockton Bight to Watagans Regional Biodiversity Corridor, with the regional park corridor being a prominent part of our 2003 vision statement," lead community campaigner Brian Purdue said.
Mr Durbin said he was considering the implications of the rezoning on his plans for the site.
In addition, he had written to Planning Minister Paul Scully to express his concern about the rezoning process; however, he had not received a response.
"The Department of Planning was pushing hard to get housing in the area and all of a sudden it changed and we don't know why," he said.
"They can say it's because of the koala, but if they really wanted housing, they would let us have a look at the report and comment on that, but they won't."
