TODAY marks the end of the first stage in the planning assessment for the proposed $101 million, 1500-bed temporary workers camp for Singleton.
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Public submissions to Singleton Council, regarding the workers camp, close today and with more than 800 submissions already received there has been a huge amount of interest from the community in the project.
It was first mooted in January this year when local residents whose land adjoined the proposed site at Heustons Lane contacted the Argus with their concerns about the proposal.
The MAC Group are the company behind the project and they have built a number of similar camps in the country including one at Narrabri.
Once the development application DA40/2013 was received by council the opposition movement swung into action forming the Better Future for Singleton Shire Association (BFFSSA) which has been very vocal and active in its opposition to the camp.
BFFSSA arranged for two speakers from Moranbah in Central Queensland where a number of workers camps operate to speak to the Singleton community.
At the same time the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) organised a workshop held in town where its representatives joined local and federal politicians to raise their concerns about the project and its likely adverse impacts on the community.
In the meantime the MAC Group continued to answer the camp’s critics saying the project would meet future peak accommodation demand and would only be built if proposed new mine developments and expansions proceed.
Singleton Council General Manager Lindy Hyam said following the close of the public exhibition period this Friday, the development application and any submissions received will be assessed and considered by council staff.
Council staff will prepare an assessment report consistent with planning legislation requirements for the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) that must include a recommendation whether to approve or refuse the application or options where there’s not a conclusive position, she said.
“The assessment process is expected to take months and will include a briefing with the Joint Regional Planning Panel by Council staff,” Ms Hyam said.
“The date for this briefing has not yet been set but following the briefing meeting, a date will be set for a meeting of the JRPP to determine the application.”
