Hilltops council has voted to give the green light to a 74-lot residential development on Henry Lawson Way, about two kilometres north of Young's CBD.
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The proposed development at the vacant residential "super-lot" received seven votes in favour and four votes against at council's May meeting.
The application seeks to subdivide 9.33 hectares into 74 lots ranging from 700sqm to 4300sqm, and includes construction of a collector road from Henry Lawson Way, local roads, stormwater detention dam, water and sewer reticulation and a reserve for recreation and drainage.
Traffic was the main concern raised by some councillors, as well as water and sewerage.
The report states a turning lane into the subdivision would be established to cater for approximately 666 daily traffic movements, however councillors think upgrades will be required at Blackett Avenue and Fontenoy Street intersections.
"I have significant concerns about the Blackett Avenue and Iandra Street [Henry Lawson Way] intersection. From my looking at it I worry about whether this increase in load is going to be able to cope with that and what the traffic volumes might be. It accounts for three-and-a-half vehicle movements per block assuming there's two cars. I don't think that's overly optimistic. I think most houses will probably have one-and-a-half to two cars on average. To go in and out three-and-a-half times won't be very difficult to do if you go to and from work a couple of times and then the shops," Cr Tony Flanery said.
"Someone is going to have to pay for an intersection upgrade there and the need for that will increase if this subdivision goes ahead."
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Cr Greg Armstrong said he'd like to see some traffic counts as he believes the Fontenoy Street intersection is just as important.
"I would strongly suggest that the majority of the people buying blocks of land and building houses here are not going to go down Henry Lawson Way and into Blackett Avenue, they're going to turn into Fontenoy Street and go straight down Fontenoy Street. I think a better traffic solution at that intersection is just as important, and in the long run may well be more important given there will be an opportunity to use Jasprizza Avenue as a secondary route to the CBD of Young. I see that intersection as being just as important, and in actual fact, in some respects, primary as opposed to the intersection of Henry Lawson Way and Blackett Avenue," Cr Armstrong said.
Cr Flanery warned mayor Brian Ingram that not considering all potential impacts could land council in "hot water" down the track.
"In considering a major development we need to consider the impact on the whole surrounding road network, sewer network, whatever it is, and make those adjustments at the beginning. It's where councils continually land themselves in hot water by not looking at the long term impacts and leaving future councils to deal with the problem," Cr Flanery.
In telling councillors that this site is "one of several" in the northern outskirts of Young with potential to develop into residential lands, director for sustainable growth David Rowland said further assessments of these issues will need to be prioritised in the near future, however he says they aren't enough to "hold this development back".
The report states the developer would have to pay to connect to council's reticulated water service, and council's sewerage service by gravity to a new rising main and pump station.
The proposal also includes construction of a community block with training facilities, day care, neighbourhood shops, and place of worship.
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