DEBATE about a rezoning proposal for South Dubbo intensified yesterday in the wake of an "overwhelming" turnout to a public meeting rescheduled to next week.
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Concerned South Dubbo residents have urged their neighbours to fight for the "way of life" they enjoy against a proposal to allow multi-dwelling housing, hostels, hotels or motels, hospitals and other uses.
Dubbo City Council continued to encourage the community to have its say and advised the postponed public meeting would be held on Wednesday (Feb 26) at a Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre auditorium.
The Real Estate Institute (REI) of NSW (Orana division), a long-time advocate for change to a section of low-density residential South Dubbo to encourage more housing types, called on the council to respond to community concerns and "clearly explain the rezoning proposal".
It came after a public meeting on Tuesday had to be called off because of the large crowd of an estimated 250 people.
Resident Steve Hodder, who attended the meeting, had earlier written a submission to the council to oppose the South Dubbo Housing Choice Planning Proposal, which he said should be called the "No Choice" plan.
In it he said the proposal aimed "to allow developers in to bulldoze large swathes of century-old homes to build high-rise flats to cater for the lower end of the rental market".
Kim Chandler was concerned the proposal would harm property value and have other negative impacts on traffic, water pressure and more.
She said she was not surprised by the response to Tuesday's meeting, and had been hoping for "that kind of turnout".
"It makes you proud of the community you live in," she said.
Resident Ray Tickle said neighbours were astounded to learn of the variety of uses in the proposed zone.
"It would take away the amenity of a spacious block of land in a nice part of town with quiet neighbours... it's a nice way of life," he said.
"If this goes through it won't happen instantly but you would always be in fear when your neighbour put his house on the market, it's a genuine fear."
All three residents urged the community to lodge submissions.
A committee of the REI Orana division met yesterday and wrote to the council asking it to prepare a four-page brochure and deliver it to mailboxes before the next meeting.
"Council should hear the concerns of the community in regard to developments other than low-density units and remove where not mandated some of these building classifications from the NSW State Planning Residential R1 Planning Instrument," acting division chairman Andrew Toole said.
"REINSW (Orana Division) has only ever sought the rezoning for medium-density housing in the South Dubbo area.
"There are already many outstanding developments existing in the area, and it is essential that Dubbo provides flexible housing choices for the community into the future, to enable the city to grow and compare with other major regional cities."
Council city strategy services manager Tony Aikins said the "unprecedented" response showed the community was "engaged and interested".
"All submissions will be considered and any decisions will be made at open council meetings," he said.
"This is a transparent process designed to inform council prior to making any decisions."
He confirmed the closing date for submissions had been extended to March 28 to allow people more time to consider the proposal and prepare a submission.
