3 April 2000

Hearing Opens On Montgomery Spur

One, a Council senior planner in urban design and projects, Janet Reeves, told the hearing chairman, Cr. Charles Manning, that she would find it too difficult to decide whether to rezone the land as urban.

"I would not like to be in your shoes," she said.

She said in evidence that "no outcome will satisfy" all aspirations, objectives and requirements.

"On balance, I do not feel the setting aside of 90 hectares or so of rural land is sufficient compensation for the loss of amenity for the city at large. If the panel is persuaded that all or some of the land should be rezoned then I am concerned to ensure that any future development takes place in a manner sensitive to the environment with minimal adverse effect on the amenity of existing residents of the city," she said.

Where more than one developer was involved it was difficult to ensure co-ordinated development.

She thought the minimum section size should be 1500 sq. m and that road access be from Alderson Avenue, Hillsborough, only.

Ms Reeves wanted careful consideration to landscaping and that outcrops be used in the development plan as features.

Buildings should be designed to suit the topography of sections, she said. Excess cutting, filling and retaining walls should be avoided.

A Council assistant planner, Chris Dillon, said three submitters wanted to rezone about 85 ha of rural land to urban for residential development. About 90 ha above the 220-metre contour will be given for reserve purposes.

The proposals attracted about 900 submissions in opposition.

The hearing before Cr. Manning, Margaret Murray, Maria Tait, and Newton Dodge, will continue tomorrow.