PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has voted unanimously to endorse a planning proposal to enable the rezoning of land for a Health and Education Precinct (HEP).
The decision was made at Council’s meeting on 16 October.
The site is located in an area bounded by John Oxley Drive to the west, Lake Road to the north, the industrial area and Lake Innes Nature Reserve to the east, and the southern boundary of St Columba Anglican School.
The HEP Master Plan addresses Port Macquarie’s predicted growth and aims to transform the precinct into a centre of excellence for education, health and training.
Councillor Rachel Sheppard supported the rezoning proposal but expressed her concerns about remaining critical issues including sewer servicing constraints, biodiversity issues, and traffic management..
“The proposal brings very important benefits including workforce housing, public spaces, economic growth in our health and an education precinct, which is essential for our region’s future.
“However, there are those critical outstanding issues noted in the report… and these issues aren’t trivial.
“They strike at the core of the precinct’s intended identity, livability, and ability to move around it as intended from the outset.”
Council noted that sewer capacity remains limited and that parts of the site contain high-value vegetation and koala habitat requiring further environmental studies.
It also found that while current traffic and parking are adequate, additional traffic modelling will be required.
Cr Sheppard said she accepted that these issues would be best resolved through post-Gateway statutory controls, development assessments, and planning agreements.
She urged developers to fully engage with Council staff to find robust solutions.
Council will forward the proposal to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for a gateway determination and will later consider any submissions received during a public exhibition period.
By Sis HIGGINS
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