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The main agenda of the meeting was to explain and discuss Mid-Western Regional Council's Draft Development Control Plan - Temporary Workers.
Chair: Allan McSweyn
Present: A. McSweyn, P. Willis, C. Hannaford, P. Thompson, R. Holden, W. Bennett, C. Van Laeren, L. Hensley, D. Kennedy, J. Webb, E. Martens, E. Lang, J. Weatherly plus about 200 people in audience
Apologies: Gina & Mike Byron Geoff Cheetham Peter Shelley Des Campbell Michael & Anne Nicholson
Chamber has called this meeting over concerns about what Mac Group & Council have been doing for Gulgong.
Thanks for the invitation. The vibe we are getting is we are not doing enough for Gulgong. A little bit fazed- as to why the meeting was called. I believe that there is concern about land that is to be zoned. Over 400 blocks ready to develop. However we live in a democratic country. People are not developing land because they can't make enough profit.
Mac Group have not put a DA in. They haven't put a DA for the land that they have bought. Block of land is not zoned. Catherine Van Laeren & Liz Densley have come from Council's planning department. Warwick will cover the water and sewer arrangements. We are working for the same cause whether it is Rylstone, Kandos or Gulgong.
12 yrs in Gulgong She will explain 2 maps. 5 yrs preparing a land use strategy.
Did town structure plans -looked for historical demand. Residential subdivision James St, Thomas and Fisher streets to come. Notations outside red dotted line not zoned.
Residential land supply Gulgong 356 lots potentially to be developed.
Work on Fisher St will dev. 90 lots, 30 lots will be supplied stage 1
Area A also owned by Ulan Coal is right to develop. 32 resid lots.
Box C off Homer St - 3 owners inc. Crown develop layout has been prepared, 80 lots total
Box D off Barneys Reef Rd - rural residential draft LEP to go to residential - maybe 50 lots
Orange boxes rural residential or low density work won't be rezoned in purple area don't want to undermine zone that is already zoned.
1st developer has to do most of development of services.
Industrial land - purple zone
Dev. Control Plan - temporary workers Acc.
Have had some level of enquiry at temporary workers Acc.
Council developed set of criteria intial DCP over 300 submissions. Initially Area's were an innominate use. Council reviewed DCP & LEP.
3 LEP's apply - former Mudgee Shire & former Rylestone Shire & pt of Merriwa Shire.
It applies differently in former Mudgee Shire than others
So this accomodation will be classified as tourist & visitor accommodation
Removed bed limitation & no. of beds in village legal advice says that you need science. Need social impact statement, link life of project to the project that workers are going to.
- other infrastructure ussues. Council has 4 new coal mines, wind farms, power station 974 houses in Gulgong - 2200 people
So Gulgong has the ability to expand by 50%
$3 million Gulgong water supply system has been running 12 months.
Turkey's nest has been installed
New raw water system is being installed in the parks. Abs peak usage capacity for another 350 homes for water
2 more yrs- another major upgrade water sewer scheme is designed to cater 4000 people so that there is plenty of capacity.
Where are we getting builders from? Developers have come to look at building houses in Gulgong & Mudgee. Andrew Gee lobbied hard for an MPS to go with Health One looking to get extra $3 million at MPS to get same services as what had before. Paid tribute to Peter Doran for making trip to govt ministers. Working with state govt on upgrading roads & schools
Council put up voluntary planning agreement for Xstrata to pay $375 million a year to maintain Cope Road - got $5 million
Ulan Road - $32 million need to upgrade
Mal Mallison - To Warwick Bennett On Rouse St through to Cope Road there are lots of pot holes- what can be done about this road that is being used by heavy trucks Warwick - coal trucks can use any road -ask police to monitor weight and speed and we will attend to pot holes There is a need to examine heavy truck use over Rouse St. Council is very aware of input from coal related equipment
Lady in Mayne St
What can we offer our children in the future- it would be good to offer young people suitable centres?
Warwick's reply- We have new youth council some from Gulgong. We are looking to upgrade the skate park, provide a movie theatre or equipment
Work on sport fields
5 priorities
Taffy - temporary was defined as 18 months to 25 yrs. If Mac makes another approach is the 25 years able to be reduced. Buildings are not permanent structures.
Catherine Van Laeren - assessment will be made because of social impacts every 3 yrs. More appropriate for developer to put forward an idea of time frame for social impacts which council will test. More important for community to have input
Allan McSweyn's question: what does temporary mean?
Warwick replied about permanent.accommodation for temporary workers being 25 -30 yrs
Cr Thompson - talked about LEP discrimination against farmers. Waiting 5 yrs
Farmers need some certainty about zoning.
Long term residents have been knocked back in LEP.
Staff have advised a proponent not to put their DA in.
Former minister has given exemption to council to vote on the LEP. It is unfair that some people can benefit from this but not others.
We are not happy with this LEP.
Di O'Mara - 1987 Ulan Coal mine had to buy 32 lots for development. Why wasn't it developed? Warwick You need to ask Xstrata Coal that question.
Council have asked for last 4-5 yrs for this submission
Another Xstrata Coal- property- they are under no obligation to develop it.
Chris Hannaford - The subdivision around Gulgong is an absolute farce.
Warwick- Council can't force developers to develop.
As long as land is serviceable Council will do it.
2852 club man talked about lack of footpaths
Mudgee seems to have more walkways & footpaths than Gulgong.
Warwick - footpaths
Fitness equipment was sponsored
Strategic plan for footpaths for Gulgong
Grants can be applied to this
John Webb - it is difficult to develop
So criticism should be directed at State Planning. There are lots of things are happening for Gulgong.
Paul Kreuzen - 2 q's If Cobbara Mine goes ahead the coal will go to edge of Gulgong Long train will block Cope Rd & Black Lead Rd can there be an overpass?
Warwick - Council will seek a more professional treatment for train crossings. Dubbo has no overpasses. Council can put in a submission for overhead roads over railways.
2nd q. Are there any other places that a mining village could go?
Warwick- Such a large scale development is only possible in the industrial area.
There is report about TWA to go into existing LEP & new LEP about proposals of where TWA's are located.
Warwick stated that new govt's attitude is more aligned to what community wants with regard to planning reqts.
Written question - Will council submit an LEP that the community wants?
Catherine Van Laeren -Many submissions from Gulgong, pre-consultation & formal consultation. Serious consideration will be given to them.
Question: Is Council going to Free up the Mayne St so that cars park only on 1 side? There was general disagreement with this idea but it led to the discussion on pedestrian crossings. Intersection of Herbert & Mayne Council looking at pedestrian crossings & pos. of stop signs could be changed.
John Webb there are pedestrian crossings 2 proposed - for 26 yrs RTA have resisted pedestrian crossings in Gulgong.
Alex Lithgow - Black Lead area - 5 developments have been recommended not to go ahead
Alex thought there was double speak going on.
Lady - 103 submissions - council have to make decisions on planning issues.
If you have issues before 1 pm advised that they will consider preparations to be done before meeting.
It takes exactly same amount to develop blocks in Gulgong & Mudgee. Is there a way that development costs can be defrayed to diminish these costs?
New people have to pay charges to developers 4K water, 6K sewer. This news that we as ratepayers have subsidised water & sewer treatments.
John Webb doesn't vote for everything that is proposed
Some areas may be unable to be developed.
Subdivision has to be done for benefit of community & farmers.
Question from Mrs Gossage - the area opposite Hospital is still messy? Who is responsible for controlling weeds?
Adams Lead Reserve funded by council up to 2K council is working with people to ensure that weeds are under control.
Christy Gudgeon. Govt. dam on Henry Lawson Drive looks terrible.
Allan - What are councillors doing about Yarrawonga etc about 2850 code & when you are using Gulgong services?
Warwick: Julie Robertson has done exceptional work about no. of people using Gulgong's health services in the light of this problem
Using post code affects postal services. Council can only write to Aust. Post about postcode issues. Trying to convince Aust. Post of inequity is not an easy task.
Allan- omission of town names on the front of MRTI booklet was noticed.
Hillary Hughes- where is water going to come from to service town growth?
Warwick - we have built turkey's nest dam which overcomes the problem.
$1.5 million is spent on turkey's nest dam.
Paul Kreuzen - with Cobbora mine & silver mine near Lue - how does that effect water supplies to Mudgee & Gulgong.
Russell Holden. - 1 gig water from Ulan to Cobbora
Cobbora don't want to use Ulan's water.
Cobbora have done modelling on 2 gig below Burrendong Dam - this will now happen above Burrendong Dam.
Russell - silver mine don't want to say that they need to find water.
Councillors went to see Mac Group at Narrabri & Murray Darling who could be an ally for water extraction.
Will temporary workers or ratepayers lose their jobs when mines finish?
Warwick - can't answer that question
Lady (2 questions)
Can council consider a cycling track along Henry Lawson Drive?
What will be criteria to get PCYC for Gulgong?
PCYC in Mudgee has been defunct but is controlled by police in Sydney.
It is really important that Gulgong youth can use facilities at Mudgee.
Cycle structure has to be maintained as part of an integrated system. It is a cost exercise.
Allan McSweyn - there were roadworks done near Cumbandry on Henry Lawson Drive that is breaking up.What has happened?
Warwick: We know about this and the sealing contractor will return to lay a second seal.
Michael - concrete causeway on Yarrawonga bump in middle has to be repaired.
Warwick: Will be done 1st quarter next yr
Andy Honeysett - rural property owner, business owner.
Said this: Mac Group does nothing for community
What is the Chamber of Commerce's position on the Mac Group?
Chamber of Commerce cannot take sides.If the community doesn't want Mac Group
Then the Chamber of Commerce has to support this view.
Motion: That Mac Group is not welcome in this area - overwhelming community support against having them.
Moved: A. Honeysett Seconded R. (Bob) Campbell. Carried almost unanimously. 2 people were in favour of Mac Group proceeding.
Russell Holden - Ulan treat 10 meg of water a day. Back in 2004 large scale transfers from Windamere dam happened.
Cobbora mine proposes to extract water from before Burrendong Dam The previous Labor state govt decided on Cobbora mine before doing any water studies.
Thanks to Nicole Hensley for giving up 1 ½ hours to allow this meeting to happen.
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