Eastwood Estate in Invercauld Road, Goonellabah axed by Land and Environment Court

After years in the making a decision has been made on a housing estate expansion proposed for koala habitat in northern NSW. Find out the Land Environment Court’s decision.

Eastwood housing estate Goonellabah.

An expansion of a prominent subdivision on endangered koala habitat in northern NSW has been axed by the Land and Environment Court (LEC).

An amended application for the 196-lot staged subdivision at 226 Invercauld Rd Goonellabah, called Eastwood Estate, was heard before the LEC during March and May.

However, the appeal was rejected by Land and Environment Commissioner Michael Chilcott on July 14.

The project was dismissed primarily based on the suitability of the site for the development which included the environmental impacts on both the natural and built environments.

Social and economic impacts in the locality as well as the public interest were cited in the dismissal.

Plans for a 203 lot subdivision at 226 Invercauld Rd in Goonellabah.

McCloy Project Management’s development sought consent for the subdivision of land to create 196 residential lots, along with one residual open space lot.

This comes after McCloy Group bought the site at 224 Invercauld Rd in 2019.

The initial development which was approved for 132 lots has been built with four lots remaining on sale.

McCloy Group then purchased adjacent land at 226 Invercauld Rd in order to extend Eastwood Estate by a further 64 lots – yet their subsequent development application was rejected by Lismore City Council and the LEC.

Their extension application included associated roads, bulk earthworks, essential services (water, sewer, power and telecommunications), stormwater management facilities, landscaping and environmental rehabilitation works.

The site spans 37ha, is predominantly zoned R1 General Residential yet also zoned C3 Environmental Management and is located adjacent to Gundurimba Creek.

The site has documented koala food trees and breeding females, having previously been used for cattle grazing.

Eastwood housing estate Goonellabah.

Key objections included the unfunded upgrade to the intersection of Invercauld Rd and the Bruxner Highway to stormwater management.

Other concerns over geotechnical reports covering infiltration pits close to environmental zoned land creating slop and stability issues.

Lismore City Council said in its submission the development would “likely have irreversible impacts on biodiversity”.

The council also raised concerns over impacts on biodiversity and insufficient vehicular access.

When handing down his judgement Commissioner Chilcott awarded costs to the council to be paid by the McCloy Group.

Aerial view of Eastwood Estate, Invercauld Road, Goonellabah.

Sam Rowe, project director for McCloy Group, said the company was “very disappointed” with the LEC dismissal.

“We are currently preparing a revised proposal for submission of a new DA to Council in the immediate future,” Mr Rowe said.

He said Eastwood Estate was zoned for residential use by Lismore Council and the development was recommended for approval by council staff.

Artists impression of the Eastwood Estate.

“In 2022, Stage 1 of the Eastwood Estate by the McCloy Group received an award from the NSW Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) for Excellence in Residential Subdivision and the estate is now almost completely sold out.”

Mr Rowe said the proposed development merely sought an extension of the Eastwood Estate into adjacent residential land as anticipated by Council at rezoning stage.

“McCloy Group remain optimistic that the delivery of further flood free land to the Lismore Region will take place at Eastwood estate in the future.