Green light for extra 190 homes in Hadspen

Map of proposed Hadspen subdivision on eastern side of Meander Valley Road. Image reproduced from MVC April 21 Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda

Sharon Webb

MEANDER VALLEY councillors approved a residential subdivision of 190 lots to be built over 14 stages at Hadspen at their April meeting.

The subdivision, to be built by Hadspen Development Pty Ltd, includes new roads and public open space, including bushland on the top of a hill.

But Rod and Bev Sweetnam, residents of Scott Street in Hadspen, said they were disappointed with the planning application.

They were especially critical of the open space allocated to a corner of the development.

They wrote, ‘The proposal does not achieve the urban design outcomes indicated by original developers and the council at the time the proposal for development were made public. It is obvious the developers’ objective appears only to maximise the number of residential lots.

‘There is no indication of landscape elements/spaces as spoken about at early public meetings. Tree streetscapes and overall public amenity do not appear to be a consideration in the proposed planning application.

‘The council should require the developers to resubmit the plans with the integration of public open space throughout the subdivision, i.e. within the body of the subdivision, allowing road frontage to parkland for amenity and recreational purposes.

‘The provision of the five per cent open space adjacent to the telecommunication structures (and as a consequence of this lower valued land) would appear to be opportunistic from an urban planning perspective.’

The block sizes vary. In the 167 lot residential zone, five blocks are below the 700 square metre minimum lot size.

The low density residential zone incorporates 22 lots which are all over 1600 square metres in size and there are three lots in the open space zone.

Planner Jo Oliver’s report said the proposed subdivision is generally consistent with planning scheme requirements.

But she said, ‘It is considered that the layout requires several modifications to better meet the local area objectives, desired future character statements and the standards of the Hadspen specific area plan.’

In particular, Ms Oliver stipulated realignment of pedestrian walkways to meet the requirement for high-quality pedestrian recreation pathways and connectivity.

The water supply for the development will come from the Hadspen reservoir which is within the subdivision site. Sewage will be disposed of at Carrick sewage ponds.

But surveyors for the subdivision said eight lots may not achieve TasWater’s minimum water supply pressure.

Mr and Mrs Sweetnam were also critical of the lack of water pressure and the sub700 square metre lots, claiming Meander Valley Council should not accept a departure from the interim planning scheme on the block sizes.

They questioned whether the sewerage treatment plant was capable of servicing the additional loading from the subdivision, saying that development stages that would take loadings over existing capacities should not be approved until sewage treatment infrastructure was expanded.

They also claimed a number of lots do not appear to have legal access to road frontage, due to provision of drainage easements in front of the lots.

All councillors voted in support of the development except for Cllr John Temple.

NOTE: No comments from councillors are quoted in this story because of the council’s indistinct audio recording of its April meeting.