Hundreds of homes earmarked for North Boambee Valley in subdivision plan

It has been a long time coming but development in one of Coffs Harbour’s few remaining greenfield areas is edging closer.

Hundreds of new homes could be built in North Boambee Valley under a plan that has been put to council.

The valley has long been touted as a future growth area and the subdivision plan put forward by Investmento Pty Ltd includes splitting the land into four lots. Two have been earmarked for low density residential, one as open space and another as environmental conservation.

The concept plans for the two residential lots would introduce up to 339 homes on the land located at 170 North Boambee Road which is part of the North Boambee Valley West urban investigation area.

Plans show the developer envisages the smaller of the two lots becoming a manufactured housing estate which would have 183 homes across approximately 8.7 hectares.

Unlike traditional subdivisions, manufactured housing estates are owned by a single operator who leases land to individuals who purchase homes – which are often relocatable.

The other proposed residential lot covers approximately 12 hectares and a further 156 properties could be situated there.

Both lots would be subject to future development applications should the subdivision plan be given the green light by Coffs Harbour City Council.

One of the last of its kind

North Boambee Valley has long been seen as one of the last greenfield residential development areas close to the Coffs Harbour CBD and in 2019 councillors endorsed a plan to move forward on it. 

The site at 170 North Boambee Road and its neighbouring property at 290-290a had been on the market for $9 million each in 2020 and the latter was listed as sold in July after its price was lifted to $12 million at the beginning of April.

The investigation area was recently the subject of considerable debate over whether to allow it to be used as employment lands. A number of councillors tried to keep it in a key planning document that could have paved the way for it also being used for industrial purposes.

This was despite warnings from the NSW planning department that the land was unsuitable due to environmental sensitivity and flood risk. The plan was eventually scrapped. 

Future growth of the area has also prompted concern from retired engineer Tad Soroczynski who warned against repeating mistakes of the past by developing before adequate flood mitigation measures were in place.

Council has designs drawn up for a detention basin at the top of the Valley and is currently seeking funding to complete the project.

The subdivision plan is currently out for exhibition on council’s DA tracker website.