SINGLETON appears on the cusp of addressing its drastic lack of housing land.
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Six subdivisions, involving 276 rural residential blocks and six urban lots, moved a step closer to reality at this week’s council meeting.
Five of the development applications moved into the final stages of the approval process, and while one was deferred for more information, this was done to ensure the safe flow of traffic to and from what was ultimately approved, rather than put a halt to the project.
The situation demonstrated momentum that has been building for some time.
During the past three months, The Argus has reported on two other business consortiums that have gained major financial backing and are keen to develop land on the edge of town for about 750 urban home sites.
The council’s planning director Mark Ihlein said after this week’s meeting: “Yes, there are some very good signs afoot.
“There are still approval processes to follow before any of these opportunities are delivered, but I would like to think that we will see some real positive changes in the delivery of land for housing in the coming 12 months.
“Most of the blocks discussed at this meeting were rural residential and while they’re not for everyone they increase the diversification of housing opportunities and create a shuffle effect as people move onto lifestyle estates they free up more traditional housing for people looking in the lower and middle end of the market.”
Singleton Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Tony Charlesworth gave qualified support to the latest developments.
“I think its fantastic news that more land is being made available, but if we have to wait up to 12 months to see it on the market, well that’s a long time,” he said.
“We’ve had many discussions, read all sorts of reports and heard plenty of advice, but really I’d like to see some of these developments fast-tracked.
“‘I believe there is still a degree of frustration out there, and I’d personally like to see some of this land ready and on the market for sale within a few months.”
The rural residential developments before Singleton Council this week were three in the Sedgefield area that comprised 74 blocks on 279 hectares; Murray’s Rise subdivision off Standen Drive, Lower Belford, which consisted of 122 lots on 139 hectares; and the Wattle Ponds East estate which was 80 lots on 87 hectares.
Also under consideration was an urban subdivision off Burbank Crescent, Hunterview.
This was a rezoning application to amend an existing 45 lot approval on about five hectares to allow an extra six lots.
The council agreed to forward all but one of the applications to the state government as part of final approval processes while a new traffic count and road intersection will be investigated for one Sedgefield application involving 32 blocks.