New $1.8m housing subdivision proposed for village of Bexhill, near Lismore

A landowner has proposed subdividing their rural block, leading to the expansion of a village near Lismore. Read what’s in store if the plan gets the tick.

The proposed Bexhill development would see a rural block subdivided into 38 residential lots.

Bexhill residents could see 38 new residential lots built on North Street if a $1.8 million subdivision goes ahead.

The development of the 14.7 hectare block would include the construction of a road connecting to North St and then Clunes St to provide access to and from Coleman St.

It’s considered consistent with the strategic and statutory planning for the locality, private consultant and associate town planner Joanne Kay said.

“This subdivision will provide increased competition in the marketplace and will provide additional and alternative lifestyle opportunities for existing and future residents,” she said.

“The construction of future dwellings on the proposed lots will increase employment opportunities in the region, will have positive multiplier effects on the local economy and will increase Council’s rate base.”

Bexhill could soon be home to new residents.

Lismore City Council endorsed the seeking of a gateway determination for a proposal to rezone land adjacent to Bexhill village to enable an expansion for residential housing at its May meeting back in 2015.

The development, however, would need to support the conservation of habitat for threatened species and endangered ecological communities.

Ms Kay said potential land conflicts due to agricultural use to the east, north and south would be mitigated by an environmental conservation zone between residential and adjoining rural land uses.

She said an Environmental Conservation Zone would be subject to environmental protection works and provide an effective buffer between future houses on the proposed lots and the land to the north and east.

A gateway determination was issued by the Department of Planning in April 2019.

It rezoned the land from RU1 primary production to RU5 village zone and partly E3 environmental management.

Bexhill back in 1890. Picture: Supplied

Koala food trees were identified in the southeast corner of the development site, which will be left untouched by the development, according to an environmental impact statement.

It is expected each new lot would generate at least six traffic movements daily.

A new layout has been proposed to provide flood-free access to the development from Clunes St to the north.

Emergency access would also be available to residents of Osbourne Rd during flood events.