2014-09-16 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 16 September 2014




Figure 3 – On –Site Sewage Layout


Council’s Senior Strategic Planner raised concerns with the precedent that may be set by
the approval of this application and advised:
Allowing for new lots less than 2000m2 ahead of sewerage connection, could bring forward
an additional 70 lots within the urban residential areas of Cooran (not including the subject
site). This represents a 25% increase in dwelling numbers - depending on the ‘take up’ of
subdivision potential. This is a significant increase for such a small town where people have
specifically chosen this town for its small scale, low density character. Nonetheless, this
increased population could occur any time in the future should sewerage be connected and
has been accounted for in infrastructure planning.
Strategic Planning prefer that a decision on the application be held over until the issues of
minimum lot size and density provisions for Cooran, and the commensurate effect on the
village, are considered through comprehensive community consultation for a new planning
scheme.
Council is obliged to decide the application and should refuse it if it cannot identify sufficient
grounds for support. Concern with the precedent of allowing smaller lots is acknowledged
but it is important to consider that the subdivision potential of other detached housing lots of
2,000m2 or greater in Cooran would not be easily realised on most. Many have an existing
house constructed toward their street frontage (which constrains access to the rear) and/or
could not lawfully build a second new house (with a modern effluent system) to demonstrate
footprint needs prior to applying to subdivide, as is the case here.




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