Hans Lovejoy
Developers seeking to double the size of Bayside, a small suburb on the outskirts of Brunswick Heads, have responded to Echo questions around potential traffic congestion and the lack of open spaces.
The Clarence Property Group have also claimed they have ‘significantly reduced the previously proposed development footprint’ and if approved, will ‘reduce the amount of developed land to 12.4 hectares, retaining over 18 hectares – or 60 per cent of the site – for existing vegetation, including the protection and enhancement of wallum froglet habitat’.
Down from 151 to 133 lots
An information session wrapped up last week regarding the plans, which are to create 133 lots, down from 151. A concept plan has been approved by the NSW Government Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPIE).
Yet despite claims around improving ecological credentials from the original plans, the developer’s managing director declined to comment on whether they would commit to ‘providing a portion of the lots to affordable and/or social housing, in perpetuity’.
The Echo asked the question, ‘considering Byron Shire is losing its community to increased property prices’.
Instead, Clarence Property managing director Peter Fahey replied, ‘The majority of homesites will be 450sqm to 700sqm, with 20 larger homesites of around 800sqm.
‘Our proposal also includes a medium density site, which would be suitable for a townhouse-style development, providing quality housing at a more affordable price point, geared towards those looking to enter the market or wanting a lower-maintenance lifestyle’.
Regarding the lack of new access roads to accommodate the new lots, and the potential for increased traffic congestion, Mr Fahey told The Echo that the existing street networks and all services within Bayside ‘were designed with our development – considered the final stage of the Bayside estate – in mind’.
He added an updated traffic engineering report includes ‘traffic calming on our site, and we will discuss with Council other traffic calming opportunities within the existing Bayside estate to address any pre-existing resident concerns’.
As for the lack of open spaces within the new greenfield development, Mr Fahey says, ‘Council would likely not welcome duplication of the existing park to the north of the Lilly Pilly kindergarten, about 50 metres from the development site’, he said.
Lack of open spaces
‘Therefore, we proposed to undertake upgrade works to that park, which will benefit the existing Bayside community.
‘This would be subject to agreement with Council, but may include new play equipment, shade and picnic facilities, footpaths and landscaping.
‘Footpaths will be provided throughout our development and a pedestrian link between the east and west zones of our site is under consideration, with a view to providing an integrated scenic walking path’.
Mr Fahey said, ‘Our revised masterplan has been designed to not only avoid development on existing frog habitats, but to also create additional frog habitat in the south east corner of the site and throughout the central corridor, which has been widened in the new design for this purpose’, he said.
‘We have also created an improved koala corridor’.
‘The entire western corridor along the boundary of the site was previously designated for residential lots’.
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