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General News

11 August, 2022

New housing development proposed near Whirrakee Rise

A new parcel of land in Maryborough could soon open up for development, with the Central Goldfields Shire Council noting it has received a planning permit application and planning scheme amendment. Councillor Geoff Lovett introduced a motion at the...

By Riley Upton

The site at 52 Ross Street, Maryborough could soon be opened up for residential development.
The site at 52 Ross Street, Maryborough could soon be opened up for residential development.

A new parcel of land in Maryborough could soon open up for development, with the Central Goldfields Shire Council noting it has received a planning permit application and planning scheme amendment.

Councillor Geoff Lovett introduced a motion at the recent council meeting recognising that residential housing land in Maryborough was critically low.

He also noted that council had received a planning permit application and a request for a planning scheme amendment to allow eight hectares of land at 52 Ross Street, Maryborough, to be subdivided for residential purposes.

The site is adjacent to the Whirrakee Rise development in Maryborough and the planning permit and planning scheme amendment are proponent funded, with technical assessments and other fees to be at the expense of the landowner.

Cr Lovett’s motion included that council officers regularly report back to council on the progress of the planning permit and organise a meeting between the applicant, CFA and council representatives to discuss the potential for the site’s development.

“North of Whirrakee Rise there is a parcel of land, 52 Ross Street, identified as far back as 2012 as theonly land remaining in Maryborough for substantial broad acre residential development,” Cr Lovett said.

“This outcome was confirmed by further reports in 2014 and again in 2020.

“In August 2018, the proponent wrote to the shire seeking their support for a proponent-led planning scheme amendment to rezone the land from a rural living zone to general residential zone.

“The proponent has a proven track record of getting things done, they have created some 470 residential lots locally and of these, 380 have either been built on or seen construction commence.

“These 380 homes have generatedeconomic activity of between $130-150 million within our shire and work for carpenters, plumbers, electricians, concreters and tilers as well as employment for apprentices and many of the materials being purchased locally.”

Speaking during the meeting, Cr Lovett said if the planning application and amendment go ahead, redevelopment in Ross Street would bring “unquestionable” benefits to the area.

“What the proponent is seeking from the shire is to be able to liaise closely with council staff, using their expertise to ensure that this application and land development project is progressed expeditiously,” he said.

“We have a motion before us that will bring unquestionable benefits to residential land availability in Maryborough—land that is needed now.”

Cr Grace La Vella said it made sense for council to support the motion.

“It is well-known in this shire that we are extremely short of housing stock both for purchase and rental,” she said.

“We have a proponent who will pay associated costs and the developer plans are shovel ready — this is a no-brainer.”

Council officers have confirmed they are working with the applicant and will report back to council with regular updates, including proceeding to a formal application process.

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