MORE than 200 new homes will be built in Eglinton as part of a massive residential subdivision approved by Bathurst Regional Council.
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Hynash Pty Ltd has been given the green light to create 219 new residential lots – plus one rural lot, one open space lot and one lot reserved for future school use - on 44 hectares of land behind Eglinton Public School in an area bounded by Freemantle Road and Logan Street.
Council had sent the developer back to the drawing board over concerns plans to redirect a water course through the subdivision could lead to future flooding problems, but was convinced to allow the redirection to proceed after seeing more detailed plans for cycleways and green space as part of the development.
But Councillor Ian North, while supporting the development and commending Hynash on its long association with the Bathurst region, warned so many new houses would put increased pressure on road links to the CBD that were already stretched at peak times.
- Read more: Council, developer at odds over water course in Eglinton subdivision
- Read more: Massive residential subdivision planned for land behind Eglinton Public School
- Read more: Eglinton housing development set to soar
- Read more: Flooding fears send Eglinton subdivision plans back to the drawing board
“We need to be careful as we approve this subdivision because we need to look at traffic in that area sooner rather than later,” Cr North said.
“This is a good development but we, as a council, must be aware of the increase in traffic movements.”
Cr North said an upgrade of Eleven Mile Drive – including an upgrade of the flood-prone bridge at the Eglinton end of the road – should also be part of the traffic conversation.
Environmental, planning and building services director Neil Southorn told councillors his department was satisfied the developer had addressed engineering concerns with regard to redirecting the water course.
Cr John Fry said he had been impressed by the developer’s focus on “connectivity” within the plans and was particularly pleased with the inclusion of cycleways on the plans.
The development includes a single lot behind Eglinton Public School that will be set aside for possible future expansion of the school.
The Department of Education has previously advised that it does need foresee the need for expansion but the Eglinton P&C has told council the school is already at bursting point and would struggle to accommodate new enrolments from the subdivision.
