Iron Gates developer Graeme Ingles tweaks Evans Head subdivision
A council faces the prospect of channelling more resources into an “already complex” Evans Head subdivision as its developer makes a change to get things moving.
Property
Don't miss out on the headlines from Property. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The developer behind a proposed Evans Head subdivision says the slow progress of his project is “disappointing”.
But Graeme Ingles, director of Gold Coast-based company Goldcoral Pty Ltd, hopes an adjustment in his proposal will expedite things.
Mr Ingles is managing director of Ingles Group, which is involved in property, accounting and migration services.
A proposal to create 178 new residential lots as a part of the Iron Gates project will return to Richmond Valley Council for further consideration.
The $12 million proposal for a property on Iron Gates Road was lodged with the council almost seven years ago.
The Northern Regional Planning Panel last week resolved to allow Goldcoral to make changes to the development application before a decision is handed down.
The project was referred to the planning panel because of its high proposed construction cost.
The panel’s decision to allow the developer to lodge an amended proposal means the application will go back to the council for consideration.
The council is expected to prepare a further assessment report on the development.
The planning panel will still ultimately decide the development’s fate.
Mr Ingles said the heart of his proposal was not changing.
“The Northern Regional Planning Panel approved a variation request to my development application to be made a concept development application,” Mr Ingles said.
“I am of course pleased that the panel gave a unanimous decision in favour of the variation request.”
He said it was up to the council to assess the varied proposal, notify government agencies and place it back on public exhibition.
The council will then submit an assessment report to the planning panel.
“The plan of development remains exactly the same however, the concept plan provides for two stages: Stage One being 135 lots and Stage Two being 40 lots,” Mr Ingles said.
He said this change was designed to allow the application “to be determined more expeditiously”.
Richmond Valley Council general manager Vaughan Macdonald said the amended proposal would be subject to another full professional and technical assessment to ensure it has met NSW Government legislation and planning controls.
“We know this proposal is of significant interest to our Evans Head community and council will inform the community when the public exhibition commences,” he said.
It is understood the planning panel had a briefing session regarding the planned amendments on August 18.
Richmond Valley Council director of community service delivery Angela Jones wrote to the panel after the meeting to indicate accepting the amendment would “increase required resourcing by council and the integrated development approval bodies” because the proposal would need to be reassessed and placed on public exhibition again.
Ms Jones said the application was “already complex”.
“All this extra work does not attract additional application fees,” she said in the letter, dated August 24.
Ms Jones said Goldcoral’s masterplan application was first lodged in October, 2014.
Despite “ongoing negotiations” between the developer and various agencies, it has remained in limbo.
“The master plan application was withdrawn by the applicant on July 19, 2021, an action taken by the applicant without prior consultation with council,” she said.
Mr Ingles said his company had paid the fees required and forked out $20,000 in rates each year.
“Council stands to benefit massively from this development on its completion by way of additional rates, which will total some hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Mr Ingles said.
“In addition, on completion my company is required to pay council $3.5 million towards infrastructure charges.”
He said it was disappointing to see the proposal drag on for so long.
“The length of time taken with the planning process has been disappointing to myself, however it is also devastating for the town of Evans Head who are so badly in need of land,” he said.
“I am looking forward to a speedy resolution to the development application so that the demand for land in Evans Head can be satisfied.”
Mr Ingles said although the application was still undetermined, the number of enquiries from prospective buyers had surpassed the number of planned blocks.
“The development will also create employment for the town by way of civil construction, house construction and the increase in population will benefit all local businesses and community services,” he said.
The proposed development has been met with some controversy; it was targeted with a paddle protest on the Evans River.
In 2017 the developers rebranded it as “Vantage” in promotional material.
More Coverage
New ‘eco-village’ greenlit for Northern Rivers
After three years of planning, the Afterlee Ecovillage has received approval from Kyogle Council, bringing an intriguing development to the community of Kyogle.
Flood battered nursing home reborn as crisis accommodation
A former Lismore nursing home, where aged care residents were rescued from the second floor in the 2022 floods, will soon be reborn as crisis accommodation.