Life imitates art: Subdivision

Was it a case of life imitating art or art imitating life?  On the weekend that casting for extras on the Hervey Bay-based film Subdivision took place, a community meeting at the Dundowran Hall yesterday afternoon voiced its objections to a proposed real-life subdivision on Ansons Road. 

The movie Subdivision focuses on the change a community experiences when city developers take over. The majority of the concerned (approximately) 150 residents attending the public meeting said they did not want the peace and amenity of their community to change. 

Alas the all too familiar story of Hervey Bay.

The coincidences did not stop there. The movie Subdivision will be directed by Japanese Story director, Sue Brooks. Not Cr Sue Brooks who, unless she is moonlighting as a director, attended the Dundowran meeting along with Crs Barb Hovard, Gerard O'Connell, Debbie Hawes and Julie Arthur, and Fraser Coast Regional Council's manager, Development Assessment, Michael Ellery.

The meeting was organised by Tanya Sanders, a young mum and Dundowran resident of only eight weeks. Tanya explained to the packed hall that she moved to Dundowran from Sydney because she was attracted by the wildlife, peace and safety of the area which enjoyed a zero crime rate. She said the developer, Braith Vidler, could not attend the meeting but was happy to meet a small committee after the meeting and listen to their concerns. 

The proposed concept plan for the subdivision divides the area fronting the eastern side of Ansons Road into two lots, one lot for low density residential, 600 square metre blocks and townhouses/multiple unit development. The second lot for shops, a tavern, service station and sporting fields with only one access road, Ansons Road. 

However, Tanya said the concept plan was just that, a concept. There were no guarantees the concept was what would be built there. She said the developer's application to the Council was a preliminary one, to override the old Transitional Town Plan. The submission did not include an application to build. She said that if Council approved the application to override the town plan, no other public notices would be required.

Mr Ellery confirmed this and advised the developer's application would be assessed under the old Town Plan with reference to the new Transitional Plan. He said both had equal weight. He said an application seeking to change the Town Plan would involve State Government agencies and the Council. He said the previous application made by the developer was not rejected by Council. The developer was asked to provide further information within 12 months. The information was lodged one day before the 12 months expired.

Mr Ellery said the Nikenbah Sewerage Treatment Plant was proposed to be upgraded by 2009 and under the new Town Plan, the efficient roll out of infrastructure could be argued. He said the Emergent Community zone, which the land is zoned, gave a lot more leeway.  However he said there were issues with on-site treatment of sewerage.

Public submissions either for or against the proposal would be given equal weight, Mr Ellery said.  They must be addressed to the CEO, include name and address, the file reference, application number, be based on valid reasoning, ie town planning, environmental impact, need, etc., and lodged by 4pm on April 16. He said late submissions would not be accepted.

On the issue of need, Tanya argued that residents were well serviced by Eli Waters Shopping Centre, six minutes drive away, the Craignish Store plus planning for more shops adjacent to the store, three minutes, the United Service Station, five minutes, and the Craignish Country Club and golf course, Fraser Lakes golf course and club house, (five minutes). She said approving more shops, a tavern and a service station was not needed and it would take until 2014 before the catchment area (local, Burrum Heads, Toogoom and Craignish) was big enough to make it a viable business proposition.

Impact was another area of concern. Tanya said approval to override the Town Plan could pave the way for future high density development in other garden residential areas. She said the area around the proposed development was the home of 148 species of bird, the last stand of Vine Forest left in Hervey Bay, wildlife, the Arkarra Lagoons, third popular eco-tourism site after Fraser Island and whale watching. She said many local residents set aside land in their yards to encourage wild life. 

If you wish to make a submission, for or against, address your letter to the Chief Executive Officer, Fraser Coast Regional Council, PO Box 1943, Hervey Bay, Qld, 4655. File number: 513/3-061243 Development application for 59 Ansons Road (lot 21 RP35381) and lodge it before 4 pm, April 16, 2008.

In the interests of publishing all sides of the story, the Free Clarion would like to hear from readers who have a different point of view and wish to contribute to the debate, email us or click the comments link at the bottom of this story.