Old Mardi Farm: Decision made on $53.5 million, 246-lot subdivision

A decision has been made on plans to transform the Old Mardi Farm west of the M1 motorway into a 246-lot, $53.5 million luxury ‘country living’ residential estate.

With sprawling landscaped parks, cycleways, barbecue areas, 3km loop walking trail and a towering “feature fire place”, the transformation of the Old Mardi Farm into a luxury residential lifestyle estate would have rivalled anything on the Central Coast.

However the grandiose plans have bee knocked back by the Hunter & Central Coast Regional Planning Panel on a litany of environmental grounds.

The proposal also drew strong opposition from Central Coast Council which stressed its objection to any residential development west of the M1 motorway.

Plans were lodged for a $53.5M luxury rural residential development west of the M1 at the Old Mardi Farm. Picture: supplied

The development application (DA) sought to merge five rural lots, collectively known as the Old Mardi Farm at 414 Old Maitland Rd at the base of the Ourimbah State Forest and create two lots.

The first lot with an area of 55.68ha would be rezoned environmental land and the remaining 168ha subdivided into 246 large residential lots.

The land is owned by Central Coast businessman Laurie Denton with the DA lodged in partnership with the Stevens Group.

An artist’s impression of the `feature fire place’ located in the centre of a community park. Picture: supplied

The DA sought to develop the residential lots over five stages with the majority of blocks more than double the size of a typical large residential housing lot in excess of 1800sq m.

The centre piece of the exclusive gated community would have been a community park with picnic shelter, barbecues, nature play area, climbing equipment, drinking fountains and a 3km walking trail with signage.

However the Hunter & Central Coast Planning Panel refused the DA stating the proposal did not satisfy the environmental zoning objectives under the Wyong Local Environment Plan (LEP).

Plans were lodged for a $53.5M luxury rural residential development west of the M1 at the Old Mardi Farm. Picture: supplied

It also stated the DA did not adequately address flooding, stormwater, traffic, impact on existing flora and fauna and “is not compatible with the rural and environmental character of the surrounding lands or the zoning intention for the site”.

The panel further stated the DA was lodged without securing about 120ha of land in the nearby area containing specific threatened species under a “biobanking agreement’ and was “not in the public interest”.

“The panel, having considered the detailed information provided, is not satisfied that the site is suitable for the intensity of the development proposed,” the panel stated in its determination.