General News
12 February, 2025
Craig Ave sudivision rejected
Concerns have been voiced over a planning permit seeking approval to subdivide a lot in Craig Avenue, considered at council's recent meeting.
The permit was first submitted to council in August 2022, originally for a seven-lot subdivision.
When the application was advertised, it had to be referred to the statutory authorities due to the objections received, and it was subsequently modified to five lots.
Two years later the modified application was resubmitted to council.
The authorities did not raise any objections to the proposal, but after it was readvertised to the public, three more objectors lodged submissions.
Seven public questions were also submitted to the council meeting, the main concern being potential flooding.
Cr Corrine Heintze expressed her objection to the proposed motion during the meeting.
“We all know the area is prone to flooding so why would anyone want to build there in the first place," Cr Heintze said.
"If the land is built up, the neighbours will suffer – they will be affected by excess water because water always finds its way to the lowest spot.
"And there’s insurance.
"With so many companies becoming risk adverse, will the people who will potentially build there actually be able to insure their houses and buildings?"
Deputy mayor Andrew McLean also rejected the motion and amended it to state that insufficient information has been provided relating to hydrological impacts of the proposed development, the application had not demonstrated that the potential flooding impacts of the development were adequately mitigated and the required fill would have a detrimental impact on neighbouring properties.
"I assume at times when there’s flooding there, the creek will be flooding also, so therefore where will that water go?" Cr McLean said.
"You can’t pump it into the creek to get rid of it and everywhere else is flooded, so it will just make the situation worse in that area.
"The place is just going to be flooded even worse than it has in the past."
In a vote of four to one, the application for a planning permit was rejected by councillors.