3 days ago
Decision looms on 23-year-long battle over bushland site
The future of one of the most contentious parcels of land in the Lower Hunter is expected to be determined by the end of the month.
The Department of Planning confirmed it is in the final stages of assessing a planning proposal to build 180 homes at 505 Minmi Road, Fletcher.
The 26-hectare site has been the subject of a 23-year battle between the site's owner, Peter Durbin, and the local residents' group, Green Corridor Coalition, which has been lobbying to have the land used as a biodiversity corridor.
Under a plan put forward by Mr Durbin, housing would be built on half of the site, and the other half would be dedicated to biodiversity.
He recently told the Newcastle Herald the plan would complement the state government's efforts to build more homes.
City of Newcastle has rejected numerous proposals to develop the site and recommended the state government purchase it for use as a green corridor.
But an Independent Planning Commission review found the project had strategic merit as it would provide additional housing to the Hunter Region in accordance with the Department's Hunter Regional Plan 2041.
Newcastle councillors threatened legal action after the government stripped them of their planning powers for the proposal.
Green Corridor Coalition spokesman Brian Purdue said while 505 Minmi Road was a relatively small housing development, its importance as a wildlife corridor to the regional park far outweighed its size.
"The prime consideration of the government must be to ensure this urban bushland corridor between two National Parks remains intact so it can function properly as a wildlife corridor, with width being the most important factor," Mr Pudue said.
He said the group had provided the government with detailed information that contradicted information previously used to make decisions about the development.
"A one-sided Hunter & Central Coast Regional Planning Panel briefing in 2022 resulted in 505 Minmi Road's special land category being changed in the new Hunter Regional Plan 2041 to a Housing Release Area. All reference to the regional park corridor was removed from the Gateway planning proposal, and the site was then put on Public Exhibition with these changes included," he said.
The project suffered a major setback last year when the NSW Environment Protection Authority raised concerns about the impact of odours, gases and air emissions generated from the Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
Even though the houses in the proposed development would be further from the waste cell than some existing homes, the proponent was requested to conduct a 12-month study into how 505 Minmi Rd could be affected.
A Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure spokesman said the department was undertaking a final assessment of the 505 Minmi Road, Fletcher planning proposal, and consulting with government agencies to consider issues that have been raised, including biodiversity, bushfire risks, and land contamination.
"The assessment will inform a finalisation report that responds to submissions made by the community, City of Newcastle, and State agencies," he said.
The future of one of the most contentious parcels of land in the Lower Hunter is expected to be determined by the end of the month.
The Department of Planning confirmed it is in the final stages of assessing a planning proposal to build 180 homes at 505 Minmi Road, Fletcher.
The 26-hectare site has been the subject of a 23-year battle between the site's owner, Peter Durbin, and the local residents' group, Green Corridor Coalition, which has been lobbying to have the land used as a biodiversity corridor.
Under a plan put forward by Mr Durbin, housing would be built on half of the site, and the other half would be dedicated to biodiversity.
He recently told the Newcastle Herald the plan would complement the state government's efforts to build more homes.
City of Newcastle has rejected numerous proposals to develop the site and recommended the state government purchase it for use as a green corridor.
But an Independent Planning Commission review found the project had strategic merit as it would provide additional housing to the Hunter Region in accordance with the Department's Hunter Regional Plan 2041.
Newcastle councillors threatened legal action after the government stripped them of their planning powers for the proposal.
Green Corridor Coalition spokesman Brian Purdue said while 505 Minmi Road was a relatively small housing development, its importance as a wildlife corridor to the regional park far outweighed its size.
"The prime consideration of the government must be to ensure this urban bushland corridor between two National Parks remains intact so it can function properly as a wildlife corridor, with width being the most important factor," Mr Pudue said.
He said the group had provided the government with detailed information that contradicted information previously used to make decisions about the development.
"A one-sided Hunter & Central Coast Regional Planning Panel briefing in 2022 resulted in 505 Minmi Road's special land category being changed in the new Hunter Regional Plan 2041 to a Housing Release Area. All reference to the regional park corridor was removed from the Gateway planning proposal, and the site was then put on Public Exhibition with these changes included," he said.
The project suffered a major setback last year when the NSW Environment Protection Authority raised concerns about the impact of odours, gases and air emissions generated from the Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
Even though the houses in the proposed development would be further from the waste cell than some existing homes, the proponent was requested to conduct a 12-month study into how 505 Minmi Rd could be affected.
A Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure spokesman said the department was undertaking a final assessment of the 505 Minmi Road, Fletcher planning proposal, and consulting with government agencies to consider issues that have been raised, including biodiversity, bushfire risks, and land contamination.
"The assessment will inform a finalisation report that responds to submissions made by the community, City of Newcastle, and State agencies," he said.
The future of one of the most contentious parcels of land in the Lower Hunter is expected to be determined by the end of the month.
The Department of Planning confirmed it is in the final stages of assessing a planning proposal to build 180 homes at 505 Minmi Road, Fletcher.
The 26-hectare site has been the subject of a 23-year battle between the site's owner, Peter Durbin, and the local residents' group, Green Corridor Coalition, which has been lobbying to have the land used as a biodiversity corridor.
Under a plan put forward by Mr Durbin, housing would be built on half of the site, and the other half would be dedicated to biodiversity.
He recently told the Newcastle Herald the plan would complement the state government's efforts to build more homes.
City of Newcastle has rejected numerous proposals to develop the site and recommended the state government purchase it for use as a green corridor.
But an Independent Planning Commission review found the project had strategic merit as it would provide additional housing to the Hunter Region in accordance with the Department's Hunter Regional Plan 2041.
Newcastle councillors threatened legal action after the government stripped them of their planning powers for the proposal.
Green Corridor Coalition spokesman Brian Purdue said while 505 Minmi Road was a relatively small housing development, its importance as a wildlife corridor to the regional park far outweighed its size.
"The prime consideration of the government must be to ensure this urban bushland corridor between two National Parks remains intact so it can function properly as a wildlife corridor, with width being the most important factor," Mr Pudue said.
He said the group had provided the government with detailed information that contradicted information previously used to make decisions about the development.
"A one-sided Hunter & Central Coast Regional Planning Panel briefing in 2022 resulted in 505 Minmi Road's special land category being changed in the new Hunter Regional Plan 2041 to a Housing Release Area. All reference to the regional park corridor was removed from the Gateway planning proposal, and the site was then put on Public Exhibition with these changes included," he said.
The project suffered a major setback last year when the NSW Environment Protection Authority raised concerns about the impact of odours, gases and air emissions generated from the Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
Even though the houses in the proposed development would be further from the waste cell than some existing homes, the proponent was requested to conduct a 12-month study into how 505 Minmi Rd could be affected.
A Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure spokesman said the department was undertaking a final assessment of the 505 Minmi Road, Fletcher planning proposal, and consulting with government agencies to consider issues that have been raised, including biodiversity, bushfire risks, and land contamination.
"The assessment will inform a finalisation report that responds to submissions made by the community, City of Newcastle, and State agencies," he said.
The future of one of the most contentious parcels of land in the Lower Hunter is expected to be determined by the end of the month.
The Department of Planning confirmed it is in the final stages of assessing a planning proposal to build 180 homes at 505 Minmi Road, Fletcher.
The 26-hectare site has been the subject of a 23-year battle between the site's owner, Peter Durbin, and the local residents' group, Green Corridor Coalition, which has been lobbying to have the land used as a biodiversity corridor.
Under a plan put forward by Mr Durbin, housing would be built on half of the site, and the other half would be dedicated to biodiversity.
He recently told the Newcastle Herald the plan would complement the state government's efforts to build more homes.
City of Newcastle has rejected numerous proposals to develop the site and recommended the state government purchase it for use as a green corridor.
But an Independent Planning Commission review found the project had strategic merit as it would provide additional housing to the Hunter Region in accordance with the Department's Hunter Regional Plan 2041.
Newcastle councillors threatened legal action after the government stripped them of their planning powers for the proposal.
Green Corridor Coalition spokesman Brian Purdue said while 505 Minmi Road was a relatively small housing development, its importance as a wildlife corridor to the regional park far outweighed its size.
"The prime consideration of the government must be to ensure this urban bushland corridor between two National Parks remains intact so it can function properly as a wildlife corridor, with width being the most important factor," Mr Pudue said.
He said the group had provided the government with detailed information that contradicted information previously used to make decisions about the development.
"A one-sided Hunter & Central Coast Regional Planning Panel briefing in 2022 resulted in 505 Minmi Road's special land category being changed in the new Hunter Regional Plan 2041 to a Housing Release Area. All reference to the regional park corridor was removed from the Gateway planning proposal, and the site was then put on Public Exhibition with these changes included," he said.
The project suffered a major setback last year when the NSW Environment Protection Authority raised concerns about the impact of odours, gases and air emissions generated from the Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
Even though the houses in the proposed development would be further from the waste cell than some existing homes, the proponent was requested to conduct a 12-month study into how 505 Minmi Rd could be affected.
A Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure spokesman said the department was undertaking a final assessment of the 505 Minmi Road, Fletcher planning proposal, and consulting with government agencies to consider issues that have been raised, including biodiversity, bushfire risks, and land contamination.
"The assessment will inform a finalisation report that responds to submissions made by the community, City of Newcastle, and State agencies," he said.
