Council approves depot development for North Wagga

A petition and more than two dozen submissions were not enough to stop the development of a $900,000 project in North Wagga, with council approving the controversial depot.

Wagga Council has approved a controversial depot project despite an online petition. Picture: Wagga Council

Residents in a quaint village in North Wagga have lost their bid to reject a $900,000 depot after the development was given the green light by council.

Seven depots will be constructed in a large shed at 114-116 Marah St after Wagga Council approved the project at its ordinary meeting on March 13.

The development will cost $989,200 to construct with the depots to be used by sole traders or small companies looking to store plant, machinery and goods which can be collected daily or as required.

Staunch opposition to the development brewed in the lead up to the ordinary meeting which included an online petition and 28 written submissions.

In the petition, concerned residents said they objected to “developing industrial sites” within their “heritage suburb”.

The site in North Wagga. Picture: Wagga Council

The petition said residents further objected to rezoning their suburb to industrial use which they claimed would attract trucks and industrial sites to their “quiet, tree-lined, family friendly” area.

Dr Graeme White spoke at the council meeting on March 14 and said the project was a “big eyesore” for local residents and claimed it would lead to a loss of property values.

Dr Michael Friend also spoke at the meeting and said the project was “essentially a storage premises”.

Artist impressions of the development. Picture: Design2 Consulting

The applicant Robert Gordon Moore spoke in favour of the development and said it was a “natural fit” for North Wagga where “light industry development” was practical.

Mr Moore said this type of development would use the vacant lots which had become a burden to owners.

Dr Graeme White speaking at the ordinary Wagga Council meeting on March 14.

In its assessment, the council said there was a diverse streetscape within North Wagga which included farm buildings, residences, other depots and vacant land, and indicated the project would not “detract” from a consistent pattern of development.

In council documents, the proposed depot and its development were considered suitable for the existing site context with the impact deemed “acceptable”.

The developer said in documents tendered to council the mix of uses for the site would provide a facility to be used by existing business owners and sole traders within North Wagga and the surrounding area.

Developers stated there were other approved depots within the village with businesses spending only a “limited amount of time” on site each day.

Its operational hours would be 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday.