Lismore council rezones land so old macadamia farm can be used for housing

An East Lismore land parcel will be available for residential development, despite a call for the site to be used as affordable housing for flood victims.

Lismore City Council has voted to zone land on Keen St to clear the way for residential development.

Lismore City Council has voted to rezone land on Felicity Drive in East Lismore that could yield up to 30 new houses on 400 square metre lots.

The site is located three kilometres from the CBD and near commercial, recreational, health and educational facilities.

The proposal involves the rezoning of approximately five hectares of a 61ha parcel from primary production land to residential, that was formerly used as a macadamia plantation.

Some environmental issues were raised, with Cr Big Rob asking staff if the koala colony that is within one hectare of the block would be affected.

The planning proposal found there would be little impact to the native koala population, or any other endangered species.

Cr Adam Guise spoke against the zone change for property developers, arguing it could instead be an opportunity for the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation to acquire the land and relocate flood impacted residents into affordable housing.

“Here’s an opportunity for us to step in … before it becomes unaffordable and out of the price range (of flood impacted residents),” Mr Guise said.

“If we don’t start acting now we’re going to lock those residents out of the community.”

He also pointed out there was a land use conflict, with land fill and a sewage treatment facility within 1000 metres of the land, which already adversely impacted nearby homes.

All councillors - except for Mr Guise - voted for the land to be rezoned to residential.