A planning proposal to rezone land at Broulee to accommodate an ‘agrihood’ of 800 new homes has not been supported by Eurobodalla Shire Council.
The planning proposal by Sydney-based developer Brightlands Living, for the new housing development at 207 Broulee Road, behind Carroll College, would essentially double the size of Broulee’s population.
The development known as “The Farm” was proposed for a 126.7 hectare site incorporating the Mount Oldrey Homestead and part of the Illawong Nature Reserve. The site is zoned for Primary Production and Environmental Conservation and is currently used for grazing cattle but would be rezoned to residential land if approved.
Tuesday’s (February 20) first council meeting of 2024 saw the Eurobodalla Mayor, Mathew Hatcher, initially vote to support the proposal to “test its strategic merit”, but when the vote was split – four votes for, four votes against, Cr Hatcher used his casting vote to maintain the status quo rather than make significant change without councillors and the community on board.
“What came to council wasn’t a DA (development application), it was about whether rezoning the land has enough strategic merit for the shire,” Mayor Hatcher said.
“I voted in support of going forward and being all ears to some new ideas, because with everything we’ve been through over the last four years with natural disasters, the pandemic and the current housing crisis so it’s my belief we should be open to new ideas,” he explained.
“But it fell four-four and I had a casting vote and with that I went against my original decision, because I fell quite strongly that it’s not the role of any chair or mayor to, over a long term, change the direction of the shire and I think we need to have more support to move forward.”
The developer can still take the rezoning proposal direct to the NSW Government for determination, however they do so without Council support.
Images: Eurobodalla Shire Council
