Iron Gates development near Evans Head refused
A controversial development application for Evans Head was the subject of a packed planning meeting with opposition calling plans for the 175-residential lot site a ‘Pandora’s box of problems’.
Lismore
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A long-running proposed Evans Head development has been rejected after a fiery public meeting on its future.
The $11.3 million plan to create 175 new residential lots as a part of the Iron Gates estate was debated by Evans Heads residents at the public determination hearing on Tuesday (August 30).
The application was subsequently rejected by the Northern Regional Planning Panel who made the decision on a number of grounds including bushfire, flood risks and unacceptable ecological impacts.
The application by Gold Coast-based company Goldcoral Pty Ltd would have seen a total of 183 lots being created, with four public reserve lots and two rainforest lots incorporated into the residential area.
The project was referred to the Northern Regional Planning Panel because of its regional significance.
It is understood Goldcoral Pty Ltd will appeal the decision in Land and Environment Court.
Dr Richard Gates was first to speak in opposition, noting issues with koala and pygmy perch protection and building on flood-prone land.
He said the area slated for residential land was wetland catchment for the Evans River and had been an “inappropriate” location for the development for years.
“It not only impacts the natural flow of water but puts people in harm’s way,” he said.
Dr Peter Ashley, who has a PhD in environmental studies, said it was an “urban ghetto waiting to happen.”
“Development in such an area is not supported by climate science so why is it even being considered?”
Resident Cherie Burrows said the development would also put a strain on the town’s doctors and preschool – the latter of which already faced a lengthy waiting list for placements.
“(The development is a) Pandora’s box of problems and a thorn in the side of our community,” she said.
The land is also one of Indigenous significance, as pointed out by speaker Jocelyn Reece, who said the site’s sacred nature could be linked back to traditional song.
She said the koala population was of both spiritual and ecological importance and would be adversely affected by the development.
“Our soul, our spirit and that of our ancestors remain in our country,” she said.
“A decision to refuse this development will save myself and others a wound to our soul.
“Buribi is more than just an animal to us.”
In a rousing speech by Indigenous advocate Simone Barker, the significance of the sacred wedding site and nature corridor was also raised.
She talked about her father Lawrence Wilson, and grandmother, who fought to stop this development years ago and feared her community was “losing their identity” due to a loss of culturally significant spots.
“(My ancestors) looked after and cared for flora and fauna … we believed all animals and plants have a right to be here just as much as my ancestors did,” she said.
“My soul and the souls of my ancestors hope you will refuse this development.”
Speaking in support for the development, fourth-generation resident Gary McDonald claimed locals were being “selfish”.
“We just object to any development in any shape or form,” he said.
He said the development would address the housing availability crisis at Evans Head.
“We don’t have any land in Evans Head, this is the only land we have available for us for development,” Mr McDonald said.
His view was echoed by former real estate agent Brian O’Farrell who believed the development could work if it abided by guidelines.
“I’ve seen a lot of young people come through and be denied access to be able to buy property and rent properties,” he said.
“We have this small opportunity of a small parcel of land which we can develop if approved.”
In June this year, an independent town planning assessment found issues with the proposed development and its effects on environment biodiversity, bushfire and flood prone land and land of Aboriginal cultural significance.
Graeme Ingles spoke on behalf of the developer company, telling the panel a lot of opposition was “unfounded”.
“The history of this development is back in mid-2014, I was approached by the then CEO of Richmond Valley Council, John Walker, who said to me the town was in desperate need of residential land and it was not available,” he said.
“He begged me to submit a DA (development application) to sort this problem out for the town.”
Mr Ingles said he had hired the best consultants for the development at an “enormous cost” to himself and particularly noted the residential land did not flood in the February floods, only an adjacent road.
“The property is not a flood plain,” he said.
“The land did not flood, the road is a different issue but it only flooded for a short period of time.”
Proponent Dale Anderson added the site’s proposal was about “optimising” yield not maximising.
“Zone service urban land is a very finite resource and we need to make the best use of it we can,” he said.
The application in its current form has been before Richmond Valley Council since 2014 and been the subject of 929 submissions and two petitions of objections.
73 per cent of those submissions were in opposition, according to planning documents.
Before this application, the development has been around since the 1990s in a variety of forms.
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