Collingullie village to be transformed now rezoning given green light

The small, rural village of Collingullie is set for a major population boost after an application to rezone land to allow for 150 more homes was granted. See what’s planned.

The small, rural village of Collingullie is set for a major population boost after an application to rezone land to allow for 150 more homes was granted.

The village - which currently has a population of around 400 - is located about 20 kilometres west of the Wagga Wagga CBD on the Sturt Highway and features around 50 dwellings.

Last week, Wagga Council’s proposal to rezone the land adjoining the edge of the village was given the green light by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment allowing for the additional homes, and the removal of minimum lot size requirements.

A report by council staff tabled at a meeting last month said the rezoning from primary production to semi-rural residential use would add a “considerable area of land” to Collingullie.

“This would permit additional growth of the village of Collingullie, delivered in a manner complementary to the existing types of development in the village,” the report stated.

“This will allow for population growth, whilst enhancing possibilities for the retention of local village services and commerce and the ongoing vitality of the village community.”

According to council estimates, the rezoning will generate around 150 dwellings, with small lots wrapping around the oval.

During the public exhibition period, 16 submissions were received, with some residents concerned about the “buffer zone” between homes and farming land and one considering the proposal to be “overbearing in scale and out of character with existing village”.

There was some positivity, with one person stating “It would be great to have more development and new houses in Collingullie”.

Matt Quade, owner of the Collingullie Hotel, is undecided on the proposed development of the village. Picture: Patrick Morrow

With the rezoning now passed, villagers had mixed views, with Collingullie Hotel owner Matt Quade calling the proposed development a “double-edged sword”.

“It will be great for the town but it is still unknown and unclear what will be built,” he said.

“I am worried about the pub with the increased development, I think I will need to change the face of the pub into a cafe, slash pub which is okay but I will need to invest a heap into it, which is hard considering the financial market currently.”

Mr Quade said he’d like to see further consultation from council and the state government to determine the impact on the community.

“Locals are already shopping, eating and doing their business in Wagga,” he said.

“Will they do these things in Collingullie? Firstly we need the infrastructure to provide that.”

The land in question encompasses 37 hectares and is located to the immediate south, west and east of the existing footprint of the Collingullie township. It is bounded on the east by Bristol St and on the west by The Rock-Collingullie Rd.

The land is largely cleared except for a patch of vegetation on the south east corner adjoining the existing village zone.

Planners want to see typical lots that respond to the rural character of between 2000sqm and 2500sqm, while larger lots of 2500sqm to 4000sqm have been provided along the western and southern periphery of the village to provide a transition from “village to rural”.

In the planning documents it foresees the future reopening of the former Collingullie Public School and “adaptive reuse” of the Collingullie Soldiers’ memorial hall.

The documents also describe the enhancement of the public realm through street design and activation and the use of McDonnell Street as a new green street, supporting both pedestrian and cycling connectivity to Collingullie Oval.

“Kennedy Street and new streets around Collingullie Oval will serve as green streets.”

Collingullie Primary School could reopen once the development is finished. Picture: Patrick Morrow

The planners said the development would provide housing diversity that would support communities of all ages and support a diverse lot mix in response to the proximity to amenities, and sensitive interface to neighbouring farmland.

“This includes incorporation of smaller lots around Crossroads Oval, and larger lots wrapped around the existing village,” the planners said.

NSW Planning documents reveal the land that will be used as part of the development which has not been given a start date. Picture: Supplied

In the council planning documents it reveals a proposal to redevelop the existing Collingullie Store as a highway service centre.

Wagga City Council Senior Strategic Planner, Crystal Atkinson, said in a statement,

“With the land zoning changes now adopted, landowners are able to lodge development applications for subdivision. The additional land will accommodate approximately 150 new dwellings within the village and will occur over multiple stages,” she said/

Ms Atkinson confirmed there was no start date for construction at this stage.

“Construction start times will be dependent on when landowners take up the opportunity to develop and subdivision approval process times”.

Plans reveal the knocking down of the Collingullie General Store for a commercial petrol store in the future. Picture: Supplied