MidCoast Council has received an application for a highway service centre at Bulahdelah, on the eastern side of the Pacific Highway at the northern interchange, just off the southbound exit land.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Council has provided the applicant with feedback on what work is required for the project to be acceptable under council’s policy.
Similar feedback is being provided to an application to establish a highway service centre at Tea Gardens.
The proposed site was located on the western side of the highway and would be accessed through the Station Creek Rest Area.
MidCoast Council councillors also were updated on Myall River Downs, a major urban release for Tea Gardens, behind the industrial area between Myall Way and Port Stephens.
The development was approximately 350ha and could include up to 1600 residential lots, expansion of the industrial area, public open space and environmental zones.
Councillors were told the application was at the initial review stage to determine whether it was acceptable under council’s policy.
Council also was considering a medium density expansion of Hawks Nest village between the golf course and the beach.
This application was also at the initial review stage.
The processing of applications for rezonings and development control plans has been hampered by the merger of Greater Taree, Great Lakes and Gloucester councils.
In February 2017 council adopted a policy that harmonised these applications and standardised fees.
Due to the number of projects on council’s works program at the time of the merger, council had little capacity to process new applications.
However with the appointment of a special projects co-ordinator, Richard Pamplin, last October, council can now process new applications.
This position is funded from fees from these applications.
Mr Pamplin told councillors that while the additional position enabled processing of applications, the number of applications able to be dealt with by one person was limited due to the complexity and time taken for such applications to be processed – generally 12 months to three years per application.
“To provide for a greater number of applications to be processed, the policy allows council to outsource the review and processing of these applications to planning consultants at the applicant’s cost,” Mr Pamlin said.
“To date, all applicants have been happy to take up this option to enable their application to proceed.”