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A Marys Mount developer says he’s prepared to wait for a study that will tell him what he already knows.
That is that demand for housing lots in the suburb is still booming and shows no sign of abating, Richard Toparis says.
His family company, Ganter Constructions, wants to develop up to 30 lots on land adjoining their current 209-block subdivision, Mistful Park, off Marys Mount Road. The 32-hectare site is zoned part E4 environmental living and part R2 low density residential. In the former portion, Ganter has proposed 2000 square metre lots, which would need to be rezoned to R5 large lot residential, and in the latter, 700 square metre blocks.
But the council, while supporting a planning proposal in principle, has deferred a decision, pending the outcome of its Urban and Fringe Housing Strategy. The land in question will be considered by consultants as part of that investigation, to be completed this year.
“Preliminary work on the Strategy indicates that there is sufficient supply of urban housing in Goulburn for the foreseeable future and there is no land use imperative to consider rezoning the land at this time,” planners reported to the most recent council meeting.
“That being said, the Strategy might identify a potential expansion on the relatively unconstrained area adjacent to the existing subdivision.”
But Mr Toparis says the demand is continuing unabated. Mistful Park’s stages one and two have been completed and sold and “80 per cent” of stage three was finished and already snapped up. A further two stages are planned.
He questioned the need for a study when he said the council had already identified Marys Mount for urban release.
“There are 2000 lots there under construction,” he told The Post.
“The housing will continue along Marys Mount Road because it’s a natural progression. There is strong demand and with migration from cities and affordability, Goulburn is growing.
“I wouldn’t say the council isn’t supportive but it is not assisting in other ways. In places like Oran Park, residential zoning is being approved overnight because the council knows the demand is there but for development here they want to do another study on land adjacent to an existing subdivision. It’s frustrating and a little silly but we’ll wait for the study.”
But government agencies have also raised significant concerns about the rezoning, which would have to be forwarded to the State Government for a gateway determination.
The land is deemed environmentally sensitive due to the presence of a Yellow Box – Blakely’s woodland, an endangered ecological community. In February, the Office of Environment and Heritage objected to the proposal in its current form and called for more information on how this woodland would be protected. The developers say it can be overcome through environmental offsets or expanding the building footprint. Council planners are receptive to suggestions. The State planning department has also advised that this aspect could be part of conditions in any gateway assessment.
The council said the intention of the current zoning – E4 environmental living – was to protect vegetation with minimum 10,000 square metre lots.
Planners also identified ridge lines, or steep areas, and water supply limitations as other constraints to development.
Their report did not rule out some intensification of parts of the site but said it had to consider these limitations and Goulburn’s future housing needs.
In January, the Roads and Maritime Service also objected, expressing concern the subdivision would place more pressure on the Crookwell Road access and calling for upgrade at the Marys Mount Mount Road intersection and more internal road links.
But Ganter countered that it had already constructed another access from Crookwell Road on to Box Avenue to Mistful Park.
Mr Toparis said that overall, the extra studies were wasting time and resources that could be spent elsewhere.
“We’ll wait for the study but it will happen anyway,” he said.
Crs Andrew Banfield and Carol James declared interest in the item last Tuesday and did not take part in debate. Cr James said the applicant was the landlord of her business and as a real estate, she managed his properties. Cr Banfield is employed by Denrith Pty Ltd, which provides contract services to Ganter Constructions.
Meantime, construction is underway on the company’s neighbourhood shopping centre, near the corner of Marys Mount and Crookwell Roads. A childcare centre is almost complete and is expected to be operating by July. Work on a cafe has also started. A supermarket has also been factored into plans but has been put on hold.
In other parts of Marys Mount, Mount Properties has lodged a development application for 29 lots at 82 Middle Arm Road, oppsite the Catholic Cemetery. The Post has also reported on 150 lots planned for land formerly owned by Tony Lamarra and another 393 lots proposed around the Teneriffe property, both off Marys Mount Road.