Boambee East housing development for 70 residential homes

A new $7 million Coffs Harbour development is being pitched to help combat the Coffs Harbour housing crisis – but not everyone wants to see the project take shape.

Boambee East housing development promises 70 residential homes

A new $7 million development including 70 residential lots at Boambee East is being pitched to help combat the Coffs Harbour housing crisis.

Urban planner Rick Bennell, who applied for subdivision of the Council Reserve land, said the proposed housing project would include “affordable” residential lots of 400 sqm each.

“The greatest need in Coffs Harbour is more affordable housing – this will be (aimed) toward that end of the market,” he said.

The plan also includes construction of a new road from the Pacific Hwy to Bruce King Dr for about 700 trips daily.

The development would also include seven community lots.

However, some Boambee East residents have raised concerns about safety and the development displacing unique native wildlife.

Grant Geytenbeek standing in front of the site of the proposed project.

Boambee Community Centre committee chair Grant Geytenbeek said the proposed new road would pose safety risks.

“Sight distance requirements for intersections near the highway have not been met which impact on safety,” he said.

Mr Geytenbeek said he believed the new road would increase the risks of flooding.

It comes after residents of Woodburn, near Ballina in northern NSW, voiced their concerns about the M1 motorway upgrade impacting flood levels and putting them at risk in the 2022 floods.

“The road built across the community land would shed water faster and increase the risk of flooding,” Mr Geytenbeek said.

It’s expected the streetscape would closely resemble recent developments at Moonee Beach and Sandy Beach, north of Coffs Harbour.

Mr Geytenbeek said the flow of traffic from the highway and pedestrian safety, particularly in school drop off times, was another concern not adequately addressed in the plans.

The Boambee East resident of almost 20 years also said it would be a “travesty” to see land which is home to endangered species cleared for housing.

He said the clearing of habitat and offset planting were not sufficiently addressed in the plans.

“We’ve been sleepwalking for decades toward the extinction of koalas,” he said.

About 4600m of vegetation will be cleared if the development is approved.

“No single raindrop is responsible for a flood – but we’re incrementally losing this habitat.

“It’s not just koalas, but other endangered species and ecological communities.”

Mr Geytenbeek acknowledged Coffs Harbour‘s housing crisis but said “housing is needed in the right places”.

“What we need is medium density housing instead. These are postage (stamp) size blocks,” he said.

Mr Bennell addressed the community angst when it came to safety.

A model showing the type of housing at the site.

“We’re adding fencing and other safety measures to comply with all council requirements,” he said.

Mr Bennell said the road the developer intends to build was “necessary”.

“It was not our desire to do any clearing but unfortunately council have marked it as necessary so we were left without a choice,” he said.

Mr Bennell said Boambee East was an attractive suburb for young families – a short trip away from beaches, gyms, shops and picturesque ranges out west.

“The Coffs Harbour market is strong because people want the lifestyle here and to be able to work from home away from big cities,” he said.

An overheard look at the proposed development at Boambee East, showing the road leading in to the housing site.

Mr Bennell said three hectares of the development would be dedicated to the protection of koalas and other species.

“We’ve done biodiversity assessments and will provide offset planting,” he said.

Some in the Coffs region have been pleased to see the development and described sacrifices as necessary to increase housing availability.

“Good to see. Karen’s complain about the housing crisis but don’t want development for people to live,” a resident wrote on social media.

Coffs Harbour City Council is accepting community submissions and feedback until March 1.