Golden Grove Code Amendment for housing

Each step relies on the previous step being approved. If this does not occur, the process ends at that point. 

1. Submit Proposal to Initiate a Code Amendment to the Minister for Planning

Council  submitted the proposal to the Minister for Planning in October 2021 and the Minister approved the Proposal to Initiate the Code Amendment in January 2022, The process could take one to two years to complete.

2. Investigations and draft Code Amendment (Council endorsement required) 

Council is overseeing the investigations and preparation of the draft Code Amendment. Investigations are focusing on the impacts and opportunities this significant proposal might have for our community, including - but not limited to - roads and traffic, the environment, storm-water, historical heritage, parks and reserves. Investigations are also looking at medical services, transport, schools, mining and our local economy. 

1. Pre-initiation investigations 
2. Proposal to Initiate Code Amendment submitted to the Minister 
3. Minister approves Proposal to Initiate Code Amendment
4. Prepare draft Code Amendment and prepare community engagement plan 
5. Community engagement undertaken - register here to be part of community engagement
6. Council considers Community Engagement Report and final Code Amendment 
7. Minister approves Code Amendment. Review by Environment, Resource Development (ERD) Committee.

What stage is this at?

• It’s still early in the process.
• YAS P&D and Villawood Properties have asked Council if it would investigate the possibility of rezoning the land for housing.
• Council decided to support in-principle the idea of rezoning for housing on 27 July 2021, and required more information before agreeing to initiate the formal rezoning process. 
• On 12 October 2021, Council agreed to submit the rezoning proposal to the State Government to seek support from the Minister for Planning to start the formal rezoning process, which involves investigating all the issues and then consulting with the community.

• The Minister has subsequently approved the Proposal to Initiate the Code Amendment in January 2022

Will the community have an opportunity to have their say and when?

• Community engagement is a legal requirement (under the Planning Development and Infrastructure Act).
• Once the investigations are completed the community can comment on the draft policies and rezoning proposal which are detailed in the draft ode Amendment. 
• The exact timing of when formal community engagement will commence is not set at this stage, however we are aiming for early 2022.
• The timing of community engagement will depend on how long other steps in the process take, including all the investigations.

Has Council made a decision on this rezoning?

• Investigations have commenced and include important issues such as traffic, storm-water, bushfires, Aboriginal heritage, proximity to quarries, environmental and ecological considerations.

Traffic and bushfire issues

• These issues would be considered, along with other important issues, as part of further investigations.
• The investigations would also consider upgrades to One Tree Hill Road. 
• These investigations would be reported to Council and the community will be invited to provide comment as part of the community engagement process.

How do I register my interest for a block of land?

• The rezoning needs to occur first, and there’s no guarantee this will happen, then a master plan for land division needs to be prepared and approved before the first stage of allotments can be released to interested purchasers by the developers. This could take around  years.
• Allotments will be released in stages over 15 years.

Who owns the land proposed to be rezoned?

• The land is owned by private land owners.

How was it decided which developers will develop the area?

• As each land holding is privately-owned, the two developers have negotiated agreements with the majority of land owners regarding a rezoning of their properties with the intention of developing the properties for housing.
• Council has no part in negotiations between the land owners and the developers.
• Developers and landowners can ask a council if they would be willing to consider investigating the rezoning of land (-ie undertake a Code Amendment).
• Developers and landowners can also assist with funding the investigations.
• Council will receive no financial benefit for the investigations other than to recoup costs of the investigations from the developer.

Is there additional infrastructure planned?

• The development will include the infrastructure required to support a new development of this scale and will include the usual storm-water networks, roads, street lighting, street trees, telecommunications, sewer, water, etc.

YAS P&D are separately proposing to rezone land at 53 and 99 Crouch Road from Rural Living Zone to a commercial/retail type zone in support of the existing and proposed future population (refer to map below: Affected Area).

This rezoning proposal does not fall within the scope of the Council-led Golden Grove Code Amendment  for housing, however, there is a degree of connection between the two given they affect the same zone and will serve a similar community. 

The Minister for Planning approved the Proposal to Initiate the Commercial/Retail Code Amendment in January 2022 and the developer has commenced investigations.