Goulburn Mulwaree Council has received a tick of approval for its housing strategy just three weeks after expressing frustration over the time taken to endorse the document.
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The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment conditionally endorsed the Goulburn Mulwaree Urban and Fringe Housing Strategy on Friday.
The plan sets out how a predicted 3359 homes will be accommodated across Goulburn and Marulan, catering for population increase of 6098 to 37,202 by 2036.
The authors expected 2600 of these houses to be built in Goulburn, predominantly at Marys Mount, but also west of the city.
Councillors signed off on the document in July and sent it to the Department for endorsement.
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At an October 26 meeting of the Canberra Joint Region Organisation of Councils, attended by Mayor Bob Kirk and general manager Warwick Bennett, members resolved to request Regional NSW to follow up the Strategy's status with the Department of Planning.
It came after Goulburn Mulwaree representatives "expressed frustration (in) dealing with the Department in the development and finalisation" of the document.
The Strategy has been more than two years in the making.
Mayor Bob Kirk said the endorsement was the culmination of a huge amount of work.
"It was an enormous task to look at our city with a blank map and begin to plan where growth will continue for the next 15 to 20 years," he said in a statement.
"Key considerations for us were the provision of infrastructure such as roads, water and sewerage but also ensuring we can provide green space and a high standard of public amenities. The council will now be able to undertake further master planning for this infrastructure.
"We undertook multiple rounds of community consultation and engaged with government departments early in the process. As a council we appreciate all of the feedback received from the community whether from a developer or a resident with concerns - this helped shape the document."
Cr Kirk also praised the planning team for what he said was one of the most important strategic projects ever undertaken in Goulburn Mulwaree.
While it's full steam ahead for developers to submit planning proposals for rezoning of identified areas, not every aspect of the Strategy won the the tick of approval.
At this stage, land around Sooley Dam, which a developer argued was suitable for two hectare lots, has not been approved along with the East Marulan precinct where large lot residential was identified.
Both of these were added post exhibition and the Department said they should be subject to the same level of public consultation as other areas.
Cr Kirk said this did not prevent the council from undertaking further investigation of Sooley Dam and Marulan East.
The Strategy aims to provide for diverse housing types including 700 square metre lots, rural residential blocks and infill around Goulburn's CBD.
In the latter category, several infill projects are underway, including the Luxe apartments at Fenwick Crescent and the Marian apartments off Bourke Street.
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
