Council & Business
26 June, 2026
Rezoning plans spark concerns
Carisbrook residents are voicing concerns over Central Goldfields Shire Council’s (CGSC) proposed rezoning in Carisbrook’s north east, with a petition launched calling on council to reject the plans.
Carisbrook’s north east is one of three locations identified by CGSC in an ongoing process to change rural living zones to general residential zones, increasing housing density where future residential growth can occur.
Carisbrook resident Alan Lendon launched a petition earlier this month calling on the shire to reject the rezoning, prompted by other community feedback disagreeing with the proposal.
“[Council] had a meeting ... I went along and it was pretty ad hoc, the community said they didn’t want what was proposed,” he said.
“It was very strong in that meeting. The feedback there was general residents wanting to keep Carisbrook as it is.
“I went away from that thinking ‘well, they have got all of the feedback, surely it was pretty clear what people wanted.”
A major concern for residents has been the loss of “rural lifestyle” if housing density were to increase and expand between Heape Street and Baringhup Road, including concerns with agricultural production, building and farming.
“Everyone has their own personal thing of how it affects them. For me, it’s around the land usage. I have a fairly large collection of agriculture machinery that is worth a lot, and a fairly large shed set up, almost like a museum. The changing of the zoning will come with changing to laws, that will mean I can’t have them here,” he said.
“That was why I have the petition, it’s not just something they are thinking about, they are actually going to do this.”
Neighbouring resident Mandy Driscoll said those campaigning against the rezoning were not against growth of the area.
“We are not against development,” she said.
“We have got business owners, good hard working people, volunteers who have helped to increase infrastructure here, it’s not like we are leaving the area to work, we put money back into the community.”
Mr Lendon agreed.
“If in time, someone wanted to go ahead and subdivide, there are no people against that. People just don’t want high density residential housing,” he said.
“For all of the residents aligned to this, none of them are against development, we just want to see it stay as rural living.
“Rural living gives people the opportunity in our shire to develop the land on the specific size.
“This is a really life changing thing for some people, this could be devastating for families.”