Goonellabah Ballina Rd development approved by Lismore City Council

A developer who saw his own house hit by floodwaters has asked Lismore council to consider a 92-lot development for the housing crippled region. However, some councillors saw the appeal as “having another bite at the cherry”.

A 92-lot Goonellabah residential development has been approved after several council pushbacks, with developers pushing the “flood-free” housing option.

Lismore City Councillors Steve Krieg, Peter Colby, Andrew Bing, Electra Jensen, Jeri Hall, Big Rob, Andrew Gordon, Elly Bird and Darlene Cook all voted in favour to see the development application for a subdivision at 805 and 811 Ballina Rd proceed on Tuesday night.

Only councillors Vanessa Ekins and Adam Guise opposed the recommendation.

The development application for the Ballina Rd site has been previously refused by council resolution on September 14 last year, and the following rescission motion on October 12.

Town Planner Graham Meineke believed the development was “erroneously refused” as he urged council to consider how the development would bolster Lismore’s dwindling population in comparison to booming North Coast competitors.

“ It’s not going to have an approval and wait for five years before development occurs,” he said.

“It’s going to occur much much quicker than that.”

Mr Meineke also proclaimed the space was “flood-free” something developer John McMahon attested to.

Mr McMahon, who saw his own house inundated by floodwaters, said he spoke to the sentiment many homeless Lismore residents were feeling right now.

He said the development was two metres higher than any recorded flood levels.

“I’m not just saying because I’m on the owner and the developer, it is giving Lismore an opportunity for new houses,” he said

“That land, none of the lots had water on them.

“So no roads, no houses, no blocks of land will be affect by any floodwaters.”

An inside rendering of a home in the Platypus Park development. Picture: Green Magic Homes.

Both Mr McMahon and Mr Meineke noted they did not know what the lots would sell for.

The lots are designed to be capable of building “Green Magic” homes which are earth integrated homes with vegetation used as the roof and wall cladding, subject to later council approval.

Goonellabah Tucki Creek Landcare spokesman Shaen Springall said the development would provide the money and resources the volunteer organisation needed to thrive.

Lismore City Councillor Adam Guise.

In opposition, Cr Guise said it was not a suitable use of the “very steep” site.

He claimed Mr McMahon was “having another bite at the cherry” with a new set of councillors.

“It’s telling this DA has come back to us again with a new council regime but it doesn’t actually have any changes to the DA,” he said.

“We shouldn’t be using the flood impact as an excuse to approve a development such as this.

“This housing crisis is a complex issue and it can’t simply be solved by the simplistic idea we need to approve every development that comes before us.”

Former mayor Cr Ekins said it was not affordable housing, claiming it would cost residents over half a million dollars to buy in.

“We’re just creating problems down the track by approving this development,” she said.

Lismore City Councillors Steve Krieg, Peter Colby, Andrew Bing, Electra Jensen, Jeri Hall, Big Rob, Andrew Gordon, Elly Bird and Darlene Cook voted for the development while councillors Vanessa Ekins and Adam Guise opposed the recommendation.

Cr Rob said the development “ticked every box”.

“Affordable housing is something government should do, not force private investors to do,” she said.

“Why do we keep telling investors no? They’re not the enemy.

“We need some houses, this development is good.”

Cr Cook said she liked the proposal and refuted claims the site was overdeveloped.

“This city is in a housing crisis, this development provides 92 new building lots to our housing stock which would be released over six stages and gives a lot of lot sizes,” she said.

“I believe it’s in the public interest to approve this development.”