Livingstone backs 409 lot Mildura Rise Estate near Rockhampton

Overriding community need for more housing is one of the key reasons behind Livingstone council support for a 409 lot housing estate near Rockhampton, despite 86 submissions against it.

A locality plan for the proposed 404-lot Mildura Rise Estate at Rockyview.

The overriding community need to provide more housing as a result of rapid population growth is one of the key reasons behind support for a 409 lot housing estate on rural zoned land near Rockhampton.

Livingstone Shire Council will next week consider the change of use from rural to low density residential by Procon Development for its proposed Mildura Rise Estate after the bid received conditional approval at council’s Development Committee meeting.

A report at the committee meeting said Livingstone did not have enough land readily available for development and as a result the new housing market was undersupplied, resulting in rising house prices and escalating rents.

The report said the region, as of 2021, needed 330 new dwellings per annum including about 60 lots per annum in the Glenlee-Rockyview corridor which had exceeded protected growth rates.

The report stated that Mildura Rise Estate would provide a mix of housing that supported diversity in the market, “supporting the lifestyle aspirations and living arrangements of households, including families within the middle stages of the lifecycle seeking an affordable lifestyle within commuting distance of employment, education, service and recreational facilities.

“(It) would introduce much needed choice in lot sizes, lifestyles and affordability, contribute to confidence in the ongoing release of lots and to relative affordability of living within Livingstone Shire.”

Councillor Pat Eastwood supports the new Mildura Rise Estate proposal.

Committee co-chair Cr Pat Eastwood supported the change to residential lots despite 86 submissions opposing the application against 69 in support.

”It’s a well thought out application,“ he said.

“It’s going to help open up our northern corridor.

”We have copped a bit of flak about some of the lot sizes but I love the way they have kept the fringe blocks nice and big so the other adjoining blocks are not going to be overwhelmed by having too many small blocks adjoining their properties.

”It’s not going to please everybody, but it totally makes sense and the developer today assured us he is ready to move.“

Cr Lance Warcon also backed the change pointing out the land was not productive for agriculture purposes.

“We’re in a bit of a housing crisis at the moment and the application is going to help alleviate the issue,” he said.

“Rockhampton’s northern growth corridor at Parkhurst is expected to grow by 10,000 residents in 20 years so having this development change to low density residential will fit the characteristics of the area.”

Lance Warcon, councillor for Livingstone Shire Council, noting the current housing crisis when discussing the proposed Mildura Rise Estate.

Among the development’s approval conditions was the requirement for a 50m wide waterway corridor to be rehabilitated to provide flora and fauna connectivity and a buffer to the natural waterway.

The proposal includes the dedication of the existing mapped waterway corridor as open space, running through the centre of the subject land in an east-west direction.

A mix of residential lot types were included with larger parcels (between 2,000m2 – 4,000m2) interfacing with the adjoining residential land to the north, east and west.

Lots within the centre of the site range between 1,000m2 and 2,999m2).

The development includes a series of bio-retention to manage stormwater throughout the estate.

Access to the estate is proposed via a new intersection upgrade at the Yaamba Road / Bruce Highway. The structure plan provides connectivity to the surrounding road network including Jolinda Way to the north and Francis Drive to the south.