Livingstone Shire’s split decision on new 128-lot suburb at Condon Drive

Livingstone councillors agonise over an application to turn much-loved bushland into 128-lot subdivision with initial vote tied. SEE THE RESULTS

Yeppoon.

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Livingstone Shire Mayor Adam Belot used his casting vote at yesterday’s (Tuesday) council meeting to break a 3-all deadlock and approve an application to turn much-loved bushland near the CBD into a 128-lot housing estate.

The subdivision being developed by Pivotal Perspective Pty Ltd is on 19.5ha of vacant land at Condon Dr and borders the popular Pineapple Trail exercise path which featured prominently in debate when councillors questioned the size of the estate’s bushland buffer zone.

The proposal includes varying the land from emerging community zoning to low density residential to support smaller lots which council officers said would be more consistent with the established residential areas adjoining to the east of the site.

The officers, who recommended approving the application, said the Yeppoon area was experiencing “rapid growth, mostly in response to employment opportunities associated with the resources sector or its support industries”.

“There has been significant development pressure to increase urban development for the provision of housing,” the officer said.

Cr Belot said “these decisions” which impact on large areas of bushland were never easy but council’s planning staff had made their recommendations based on assessing all the relevant facts.

Map shows the location of the council approved 128-lot housing estate on Condon Drive in Yeppoon.

“I recognise that some in our community will be disappointed that we are not standing up for this land,” he said.

“Although it is challenging on the grounds that we know this location is much loved by much of the community, it is still private land however that’s the subject of a development application that has been through a very rigorous process.”

He said council had to be very mindful of voting against proposals that had been recommended by its own officers as those cases were harder to defend when going to the expensive appeals court process.

Earlier Cr Warcon said he couldn't support the application.

“I just can’t,” he said.

“It’s a space that we should do everything we can to protect it despite complications and the officers’ recommendation.”

Cr Watson said he was concerned about the loss of trees and bushland on the hills which could end up with a “bald look”.

Cr Eastwood said while many “of us” would like to see it left alone there was no valid reason for refusal.

“Much of the bushland outside the development footprint will remain bushland but it does pain me to lose such a significant green space so close to the CBD.”

Councillors Andrea Friend, Lance Warcon and Rhodes Watson voted against the application while Cr Belot, Pat Eastwood and Wade Rothery voted in favour.

Earlier in the meeting council Cr Warcon asked if the developer would consider increasing the size of the 20 metre vegetation buffer zone between lot fences and the Pineapple Trail.

The developer was contacted and said that wasn’t possible as lot sizes would need to be reduced to below the allowable level.

He did agree to increasing the density of the buffer zone plantings.

Map show site plan for 128-lot estate on Condon Drive, Yeppoon.

The development is to be rolled out in two discrete stages, namely lot 1 to lot 72 (Stage One) and lot 73 to lot 128 (Stage Two).

Council resolved to issue an Infrastructure Charges Notice for the amount of Stage 1 for $2,331,000 and Stage 2 $1,740,480.

The housing lots will cover approximately 45.8 per cent of the area, drainage 2.1 per cent, environmental open space 31.9 per cent and road areas 20.2 per cent.

The site will have direct access from Condon Drive with trunk infrastructure to be constructed by 2031.

Lot sizes range from 600 sqm to 1000 sqm with most lots between 600 sqm and 700 sqm.

The proposal includes a construction management plan and local wildlife management plan to ensure there is no over clearing or impact to existing biodiversity over the site.

There will be an underpass or an underpass provided for the Pineapple Trail.

Cr Watson said many people in the area living near the trail used it for commuting to the CBD.