Councillors on Monday night listened to submissions from local residents concerned with the current planning for a development at 3 Burrai Place.
Darren Manton was one of the key speakers, and he raised multiple issues with the development under its current plan.
He suggested some photos used in the original development application were outdated by at least four years and failed to recognise three established properties affected by the development.
Darren believes the lots in close proximity to the boundary on Grand Junction Road and Burrai Place would create privacy and noise issues and harm the overall visual outlook. He said completed dwellings would overlook established homes in the area due to their elevated positioning and suggested 13 of the lots be removed from the plan and retained as natural grassland.
Darren also raised concerns regarding the current traffic management planning, particularly the plan to add additional entry points on Grand Junction Road and Burrai Place. He instead suggested the newly upgraded Wellington Road as an alternative option.
“We ask that Council and the developer take a more proactive and sensitive approach to address these issues,” said Darren.
Fleur Flanery was next to speak, and she had a focus on seeking greater transparency from both the developers and Council moving forward.
Fleur suggested Council needed to be more assertive. As an example, she quoted multiple aims of the Yass Valley Local Environment Plan (2013) that she believes the development plan in its current form directly goes against. Those aims were:
(a) to establish planning controls that promote sustainable development
(g) to protect and enhance the character of each of the villages in Yass Valley,
(i) to protect and conserve the cultural heritage and history of Yass Valley
(j) to protect and enhance the environmental and biodiversity values of Yass Valley.
With the development aiming to provide affordable housing for young families, Fleur also noted that the nearest suitably sized park was two kilometres away up and down a hill. She suggested this was too far for young families to walk and that it would mean more cars on the road simply to access basic recreation.
There were several other submissions, reiterating the points made by Darren and Fleur and raising further issues such as the environment and wildlife. The developers and Director of Planning and Environment at Yass Valley Council replied to many of their concerns. They also answered questions from the Councillors in attendance. Councillor Geoff Frost questioned why a masterplan wasn’t required for the development.
The Councillors thanked those who presented and stated it would help them make an informed decision on the development in the future.
Max O’Driscoll
