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Narrabri Shire Council has voted not to support a proposed change to the Narrabri Local Environment Plan (LEP) to include a motel-functions centre to be developed at the Riverbend Estate.
Today’s council meeting voted unanimously, with no discussion, to adopt the recommendation of the council’s planning department not to proceed with the planning proposal.
A public gallery of objectors was present for the council vote and three speakers representing them presented arguments against the proposal.
They argued that landholders had bought blocks in the Riverbend Estate in the expectation that it would remain a rural lifestyle environment.
They feared that the development of commercial premises would destroy that amenity.
The council vote came at the end of a long campaign of opposition from Riverbend Estate and other residents.
The issue was first before the council the October monthly meeting
The planning department noted that council had received many objections to the proposal.
However, the applicant had argued that the residents’ fears were misplaced.
A spokesperson for the group of objectors at the meeting Ms Jocellin Jansson, said she was ‘very strongly pro-development’ and as an investor in the town herself saw a positive future for Narrabri.
“However, this is an inappropriate development for the area, which is a rural residential sub division” Ms Jansson told the council.
She complimented the applicant, Mr Campbell McIntosh, on the significant investments and achievements in Narrabri he had already undertaken. Mr and Mrs McIntosh have added much to the quality of life and lifestyle in Narrabri with the development of The Crossroads Hotel, Ms Jansson said.
“However, the proposed Riverbend development is inappropriate for the area.”
Riverbend landholder Amber Jansson said the approval of the application for the amendment to the zoning could lead to fragmentation of land use in the estate.
“If approved it will lead to uncertainty for all residents about future applications for changes to zoning.”
In his address, the third speaker, landholder Mr Will Winston Smith, said the new Narrabri Local Environment Plan (LEP) embodied an expectation of trust regarding future development.
“I can see a plethora of issues which can flow from approval of the Riverbend application” he said.
These included traffic and safety matters which would accompany higher volumes and the impact on council resources.
Cr Ken Flower moved that the recommendations of the council’s planning department not to proceed with the planning proposal be adopted.
“A lot has been said about the issue. It is a case where land use planning has wider effects” he said.
“There has been good feedback on people’s concerns about disturbance of the amenity of the area.
“It should remain a residential area” Cr Flower said.
