Wolumla: Major $57m subdivision proposal to transform small village

A village of less than 1000 people is set to completely transform as part of major development plans, which would almost double its physical size.

Plans for the proposed subdivision.

A Bega Valley village with a population of less than 1000 people could soon transform drastically, with major plans set to nearly double the town’s physical size by adding more than 100 homes and a commercial precinct.

The “Wolumla Estate”, with a staggering price tag of $57,540,653, has been proposed for the rural village of Wolumla, which is 21km south of Bega.

A 170-lot subdivision will be constructed alongside Candelo Wolumla Rd and Scott St if the plans are approved.

Draft master plans included in the development application, which currently sits with the Bega Valley Shire Council and NSW Regional Planning Panel, also reveal the development would include a small commercial, retail precinct.

Elizabeth Slapp, a spokeswoman for town planning firm Planned, which submitted the development application, said the major subdivision proposal would address housing shortages in the Bega Valley region.

The subdivision would be constructed alongside Candelo Wolumla Rd and Scott St.

“Recent population growth within the Bega Valley Shire has resulted in a housing shortage both for purchase and for rent, contributing to high purchase and rental prices throughout the local property market,” she said.

“This in turn is impacting a high proportion of low and moderate income households that are experiencing housing stress.

The proposed subdivision includes 170 lots for homes and a commercial precinct.

“In addition to this, the existing housing stock is noted to be mostly single detached three to four bedroom dwellings, which does not align with the emerging size of households – expected to consist of one or two people.”

Ms Slapp said the 69-hectare land at Wolumla had been sought after by developers to construct land for future homes for quite some time, given its infrastructure serviceability and relative lack of environmental constraints.

“Whilst the delivery of Wolumla Estate will not solve the current housing crisis, it is expected to help to alleviate some of the pressures through the staged provision of variably sized residential allotments, which will encourage diverse housing styles, sizes and tenures – all of which having access to high amenity through public open space and movement networks,” she said.

Ms Slapp described the proposal as a “high-quality urban precinct, heavily embedded within the local context and surrounding landscape”.

While plans reveal the development would involve the subdivision of the 170 lots and the construction of roads connecting the new estate to the main township, the plans stated the development would not include the construction of houses, rather the lots would be sold to individuals buyers and developers.

Plans for the Wolumla Estate will remain on public exhibition until late next month, with the NSW Regional Planning Panel set to vote on the development later this year.

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