A new application for a 34-hectare business park development on the paddock land between Country Rd and New Winton Rd near the airport turnoff in Tamworth has been put on hold to give more time for public comment.
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The Hunter Land Holdings development application was put to this week's Tamworth Regional Council meeting but any decision on it has been deferred in the face of requests to give nearby residents more time to examine what's involved.
The newest plan from the Newcastle-based developer comes nearly two years after its initial approach to TRC to start the first of four stages of its business park on that site.
This time around there's a reconfiguration of the internal road system and a drop of eight to 25 allotments being set out in this stage of the commercial development. As well there are a couple of defined site areas separated by engineered water drains and gutters.
Hunter Land Holdings has 120ha on the entire site but the 2012 DA was for a subdivision to create 33 allotments (ranging in size from 1600 sqm to 1.9ha), roads, stormwater retention systems, reserves and a residue lot.
At that stage it was made clear there would be further subdivision stages, and TRC yesterday said the company had indicated that was for four stages.
Eight submissions were originally received about the plan, raising concerns ranging from the amenity of the area, stormwater management and traffic impacts.
Mayor Col Murray said on Wednesday that a preview meeting with some residents this week had raised similar concerns but also that there was too little time for neighbours to look at what the latest DA contained if it was put to council for approval this week.
Cr Murray said traffic, access, water, and the speed of traffic along New Winton Rd (which takes most people to the airport from town) were concerns again this time around.
On its website, Hunter Land Holdings promotes the project as the Tamworth Transport Centre and near the proposed fuel ethanol extraction plant (set down for Goddard Ln, according to stock exchange information on Monday).
The development is zoned B7, the only such zoning under the current local environment plan in the TRC area.
A council spokesman said yesterday that had been agreed after the company first approached TRC about five years ago and had applied for the zoning to be approved.
That B7 is different to zoning for bulky goods, such as near the Longyard complexes or for Taminda and Glen Artney, which are for heavier industrial use.
But it includes a wide sweep of light industry or commercial development, such as warehousing and distribution, vehicle sales or hire, service stations, transport depots, government offices, child care centres, churches, restaurants and cafes, and technology industries.
Hunter Land Holdings has advertised the lots from $180,000 for sizes from 3000sqm up to about 3.4ha.
By comparison, the average Tamworth house block is about 800sqm.