Plans for major Gympie subdivisions revealed amid land grab

The largest subdivision development to get the green light from the Gympie council so far this year was 29 lots in Imbil, to be opened up in three stages.

There is no shortage of demand for vacant land across Gympie and now there is a surge in supply from land owners trying to meet it.

Since the start of the 2021 there have been 59 subdivision applications proposing a total of 257 new blocks lodged with Gympie Regional Council, more than was lodged in 2019 (47) and 2020 (54).

The council has approved 180 lots so far this year, having given the green light to 39 applications.

The rise in applications has come amid a surge in vacant land sales, which are at a 10-year high not only in Gympie but across the Wide Bay.

The largest subdivision development approved by the council so far this year was a 29-lot subdivision at Diggings Rd in Imbil, to be opened up in three stages.

Blocks in this development range from 1007m sq to 1410m sq.

Early this month a proposal to split two Copp Rd blocks of land into 26 pieces was given the green light by the council’s planning department.

Two dozen new blocks will be broken off the front of 110ha on McIntosh Creek Rd.

The 3.9ha property will be sliced into lots between 602m sq and 1730m sq in size, with a pond reserve included on the eastern side of the development.

Two dozen blocks will be opening up at McIntosh Creek under a proposal approved by the council’s planning department in March.

The blocks will be sliced off the front of a 110ha property on McIntosh Creek Rd and will be no smaller than 4017m sq.

Fourteen new lots will be opening at Southside’s Sorensen Rd near Grevillea Ave too.

Cooroy-based Roberts Bros have revealed plans to slice this Chatsworth Rd block into 29 lots. This application has not yet been approved by Gympie Regional Council.

The remaining 35 applications to the council were to slice blocks into no more than four pieces,; almost two thirds of these applications sought to divide blocks in two.

Large scale subdivisions still outstanding include a 29-block proposal at Chatsworth’s Fritz Rd by Cooroy-based developers Roberts Bros, and a plan to open 34 lots between Litchsner Rd, Glastonbury Rd and Snake Creek.

The development has not been met with entirely open arms, however.

Environmental groups have decried the amount of clearing happening across the region, with more than 20ha reportedly cleared across the Southside and Pie Creek in the past few months.

Gympie council sustainability director Adrian Burns said the region’s planning scheme “provides a clear decision-making framework for all development applications”.

Gympie council sustainability director Adrian Burns said the region’s planning scheme projected for up to 10 years’ future growth.

This ensured a “balanced approach to supporting strong growth, nurturing resilient communities and maintaining healthy natural systems”, he said.

“The Planning Scheme also has clearly identified zones for different types of development.

“Sustainable development throughout the region is further supported by the Conservation Significant Areas Overlay within the Planning Scheme.

“At this time, Gympie’s Planning Scheme allows for projected growth of up to 10 years into the future.”

Originally published as Plans for major Gympie subdivisions revealed amid land grab