A SUBDIVISION near O’Connell has moved a step closer after Tuesday’s Oberon Council meeting.
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But it was only a small step.
Council has a planning proposal from Belvoir Hill Pastoral Company for an amendment to the Oberon Local Environmental Plan to rezone land at 2519 O'Connell Road, south of O’Connell village, from RU1 Primary Production Zone to R5 Large Lot Residential Zone with a 10-hectare minimum lot size.
The rezoning would allow a potential 17-lot subdivision on the subject site.
Oberon Council officers assessed the planning proposal as far back as August last year and identified a number of reasons why support should be withheld.
Council then decided in November last year to defer any decision on the matter until an on-site inspection.
That inspection was held on January 23 and attended by a number of councillors, including Clive McCarthy and mayor Kathy Sajowitz, the proponent Cameron Hill, David Walker from consulting firm Geolyse and council’s planning and development director Shane Wilson.
After this inspection, the recommendation that went to council’s February meeting this week was for council to continue to withhold its support for the planning proposal.
Among the reasons given was that the rural subdivision will result in disproportionate demand for services and infrastructure in O'Connell, which is currently not zoned to allow for retail use.
Cr McCarthy, however, said he supported the development proposal as there was an obvious desire to live in the location and any infrastructure requirements already existed, including a sealed road, NBN, and a nearby bus service.
He said the lot in question was also low quality agricultural land.
After a lot of discussion among councillors, part of the approved recommendation included Oberon Council staff to prepare a gateway and rezoning report to forward on to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.