Northern Regional Planning Panel approves Ingenia over 50s community in Woolgoolga

A $30m over 50s community in the state’s north has been approved in a unanimous decision from a regional planning panel despite concerns about bushfire and flooding risks. See the plans.

Artist's impression of the site map of the 180 strong over 55's housing development set for Newman's Road, Woolgoolga.

A $30m over 50s community in the state’s north has been approved in a unanimous decision from a regional planning panel despite concerns about bushfire and flooding risks.

The Ingenia community in Woolgoolga, roughly 25km north of Coffs Harbour, will consist of 180 homes, a clubhouseand communal areas, as well as dedicated caravan storage spaces.

The community caters to those over the age of 55.

The Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) approved the plans in a unanimous vote this week.

The Newman's Road site of the Ingenia over 55s accommodation in Woolgoolga.

Two out of five members on the panel included Coffs Harbour Mayor Paul Amos and Councillor Sally Townley.

The panel received 40 submissions and 28 were objecting to the proposal on land identified by the City of Coffs Harbour as “bushfire prone and flood prone”.

Some of the issues raised by the community included traffic concerns, adequacy of access for emergency services, pressure on infrastructure as well as visual and stormwater impacts among others around the development site on Newmans Rd.

An artist's impression of the facilities at the Ingenia development’s clubhouse approved for Woolgoolga.

In determining the DA proposal on July 25, 2024, the panel took the concerns into consideration and made its decision to approve the DA with conditions.

These include amending existing conditions such as having an ecologist present during the land clearing and adequate stormwater drains.

New conditions were also imposed including a community bus service to be provided by Ingenia for resident use and measures to allow emergency services access to the development at all times.

The NRPP Determination and Statement of Reasons notes “The panel considers that concerns raised by the community have been adequately addressed in the assessment report and that no new issues requiring assessment were raised during the public meeting”.