Nightcap Village spruiked by Pete Evans breaches density and environmental restrictions

Controversial celebrity chef Pete Evans has been spruiking a new “intentional community” on the North Coast, but there are many issues, according to a new report.

Pete Evans showcases Nightcap on Minjungbul.

The controversial Nightcap Village is “prohibited” by Tweed Shire Council’s standards, according to a report to be tabled this week.

It is expected the development application will be referred back to the Northern Regional Planning Panel for determination due its complexity, as recommended by council officers.

The recommendation comes just weeks after the project was sent back to the council due to being overvalued by at least $7 million.

The application is for a Rural Land Sharing Community and associated works over 21 lots which are to be subdivided into 11 lots, on an area of 1584.34 hectares which seeks approval for 392 dwelling plots over 10 lots to create 10 interconnected Rural Land Sharing Communities on Kyogle Road, Mount Burrell.

The development, also known as Nightcap Village, has been spruiked by controversial celebrity chef Pete Evans as an “intentional community”.

The application was initially costed at $37 million, but after unnecessary components were removed, the value was reduced to an estimated capital investment of $21.9 million.

The stage one application, to go before the planning panel on Thursday, is for minor works relating to private internal road works.

According to the report before the council the application is prohibited and should be refused on 10 different grounds, including undue environmental harm and breaching maximum population density.

The council staff recommendation is for the development application to be referred for determination based on this assessment report to the Northern Regional Planning Panel.

If the panel decides it is not the determining authority, then the council’s general manager is delegated authority to determine the development application.

The decision will be made on Thursday.