More than 80 lots might be coming to a southeast NSW town amid rezoning plans. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
Plans to expand a Queanbeyan area estate have made it through to the next step after councillors gave a planning shake-up the green light.
At a recent meeting, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) voted to rezone a roughly 30-hectare stretch of land between Googong and Queanbeyan.
Council documents state the area is located to the northwest of the existing Sunset Estate development and north of Googong Township.
The proposal would bring 86 new lots to the area and serve as the second stage of the development.
The proposed expansion (shown with the red marker) is located a short distance north of Googong. Image: Google Maps/Screenshot.
They also amended minimum lot sizes in the area, meaning its blocks will range from 600 to 1000 sqm.
(Before the change, the minimum block size was between 1000 sqm and 10 ha, depending on the zoning.)
Councillor Bryce Wilson said the proposal would expand housing in the area.
He was satisfied that environmental protection measures would be enough.
“We’ve been agreeing [to] this as we’ve gone along. I think there is environmental concern, for sure, but we are assured that some of that is mitigated, particularly around the box gum woodland [on the site].”
According to the planning proposal, sections of the site that contain the endangered box gum woodland were among those set to be rezoned.
They have been moved into the C2 Environmental Conservation category.
“Overall, the vegetation on the site is sparse, featuring scattered mature trees in the central and northeastern area, while denser clusters are found along the northern and western boundaries,” the documents state.
It also argues that environmental impacts to the box gum woodland and other native vegetation have been “significantly minimised” by focusing development in disturbed areas.
Cr Katrina Willis flagged environmental concerns and residential build-up as reasons why she was opposed to the proposal.
“I think there’s too much density proposed in what should be a rural scale development between Googong and Queanbeyan,” she said.
“There should be a clear delineation between Googong Township and rural residential scale development … I don’t believe this development achieves that.”
She said the box gum woodland should be protected and “not treated as a trade-off … in exchange for building lots”.
Council documents state that residents are expected to have their primary access to Googong Road through a connection to Gorge Creek Road.
A traffic assessment included in the planning proposal forecasts that the level of service would be unchanged for the Old Cooma Road/Googong Road and Gorge Creek Road/Googong Road intersections, while an analysis found no additional turn bays are required on Googong Road.
The proposal states that the development would increase housing options in the area through its smaller lots.
“The planning proposal demonstrates both strategic and site-specific merit, aligning with key state and regional strategies that address housing demand, environmental conservation, and infrastructure efficiency,” the document states.
According to the development’s website, all 36 lots in stage one were sold, while a development application (DA) for stage two is being developed.
During the meeting, Cr Willis was the only councillor to vote against the proposal.
