THE increasing trend towards medium density housing in Bathurst is helping stop urban sprawl in the city.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With land near the central business district at a premium and a shortage of new building blocks coming, Bathurst Regional Council is ensuring the maximum potential of any developments is realised.
It is set to approve one development for six two-bedroom units at 283 Stewart Street. And another four two-bedroom units and a five-lot subdivision are also earmarked for 22 Durham Street.
They come at the same time as construction moves into full swing on a major town house development on Gilmour Street next to the Christian Life Centre.
Council’s director of environmental planning and development David Shaw said yesterday the days of the traditional quarter acre block are long gone.
“We’re focussed on sticking to our housing strategy goal of having 25 per cent of our population living in some form of medium density housing (MDH).
“What council is doing is providing sufficient land and ensuring the necessary planning is in place to stick with that target.
“It’s a policy being encouraged by the state government to minimise urban sprawl.
“Obviously the older areas of Bathurst are starting to be fully developed, so there has to be planning controls in place so that medium density developments can be incorporated into the new outer release areas.”
Mr Shaw said a typical example is that blocks above a certain size are permissible for unit-type developments.
“However, these are at a lower density than in the older areas of town,” he said.
“What happens regularly is that in the older areas the heritage house on the block stays to keep the streetscape intact and the units are built at the rear of that parcel of land.
“I would estimate this has been our aim for about 15 years now and it is working because our figures show we have around that 25 per cent of residents in MDH.”
Mr Shaw said MDH allows for better service utilisation.
“For example, itt means less travelling for school bus services and the like,” he said. “I think that for the foreseeable future we will stick to the 25 per cent allowance, but in years to come that figure may go higher.”