Planner says no to Westbury residents’ rezoning objections
Main Westbury rezoning locations
A Land bound by Lyttleton, William, Taylor and Waterloo Streets
Rural Resource Zone to General Residential Zone
B Land at 12 Lyttleton Street
Rural Resource Zone to Rural Living Zone
C Land at 1 William Street
D 9 and 10 Quamby Street, 113A Meander Valley Road
Rural Resource Zone to Low Density Residential Zone
E Land at 115 Meander Valley Road
Rural Resource Zone to Village Zone
F Land bound by Dexter, Jones, Taylor & Shadforth Streets
Low Density Residential Zone to General Residential Zone
Parcels of crown land are also rezoned from Rural Resource Zone to Village Zone, Low Density Residential Zone and Utilities Zone, consequential to the proposed rezoning of land described above.
A Specific Area Plan is applied to the land bound by Lyttleton, William, Taylor and Waterloo Streets (Location A).
Map based on public rezoning information – boundaries are approximate.
Sharon Webb
MEANDER VALLEY Council senior planner Jo Oliver has rejected residents’ objections to rezoning Westbury land parcels providing more housing options for potential residents of the town.
And she flatly denied the timing of zone changes was to facilitate support for the State Government’s proposed new prison on Birralee Road, a claim made by resident Emma Hamilton, who is president of Westbury Region Against the Prison.
At its December meeting, the council considered Ms Oliver’s report on representations on the rezonings, received from ten residents, Taswater, Tasrail and the Department of State Growth.
Mayor Wayne Johnston said for the council to be looking at subdividing prime agricultural land was a worry.
‘But looking at the progress of Westbury, I guess this is an ideal opportunity to make sure future building lots are available’, he said.
Ms Oliver told the December council meeting she predicted only four years of land supply available in the town.
‘Possibly less if higher rates of development prevail and landowners with larger blocks don’t seek to subdivide one or two lots’, she said.
‘Currently Tasmania is experiencing higher levels of demand with interstate migration. Meander Valley is no exception.’
But residents are concerned about the township’s character being affected by more traffic and poor quality future dwellings, small lot sizes being incompatible with the character of Westbury, impacts on wildlife and loss of agricultural land.
Emma Hamilton questioned the need for additional land when all zoned land is not yet developed and Anne-Marie Loader maintained there were not enough services to support population growth.
Seven residents said infrastructure such as roads, pathways and sewer services are not at a standard to support increased population. Residents also commented on the council’s lack of consultation on the changes.
Ms Oliver’s report responded to residents’ comments, saying more houses would not adversely affect Westbury’s amenity, in fact the town is a well serviced district centre.
She maintained the General Residential Zone’s allowed small lots of 450 sq metres allowed were not likely to eventuate and that the rezonings were needed to plan for the future.
Ms Oliver acknowledged minor road widening would be needed but said Taswater had confirmed adequate sewer capacity for increased household numbers.
On the issue of consultation, she maintained that population growth had been ‘supported by the majority of the community’ in council consultations with the Westbury community ‘over the years’.
The council must report representations about the zone changes to the Tasmanian Planning Commission, who will hold hearings into representations before approving or rejecting them.