South Dubbo is a suburb split on the need for medium-density housing options.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Residents concerned about a proposed new zone prepared to fight any changes.
But “quite a number of residents” from the area were in favour of options other than low-density living, Dubbo’s peak body for real estate reported.
South Dubbo residents wanted to remain in the suburb for their retirement but struggled to find suitable homes, Real Estate Institute of NSW Orana division member Rod Crowfoot said.
Retirees and those approaching retirement would like villas, townhouses, duplexes or a unit that was more manageable than houses on larger blocks as they aged, he said.
The current R2 low-density residential zoning of much of South Dubbo prohibited any such development.
A smaller section of the suburb and sections of Dubbo’s north, east and west were zoned R1 general residential, which allowed medium-density housing, but Mr Crowfoot said there was need for more.
“We want appropriate housing in appropriate areas for everyone,” he said.
“A South Dubbo resident would choose to stay there rather than move to North Dubbo or Victoria Street (in West Dubbo).”
Mr Crowfoot outlined reasons for change after a storm of controversy hit the South Dubbo Housing Choice Planning Proposal last week, making it one of the city’s most contentious issues in recent years.
An estimated 250 people turned out to a public meeting hosted by the council on Wednesday.
The crowd was so large that a planned presentation could not be effectively delivered and the meeting was rescheduled to Wednesday (February 26).
Mr Crowfoot said the reaction to the planning proposal was a surprise because of its contrast to the same zoning change to a smaller area of South Dubbo, gazetted in 2011.
The earlier change had prompted little debate during the public consultation period, he said.
He welcomed discussion and encouraged people to come with “an open mind” to this week’s meeting, to be held at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre Macquarie Auditorium.
“It is good to get the input so there is balance and it’s the best it can be,” he said.
“If it’s not appropriate, so be it.
“But based on what the community has been telling the industry, we need to add housing types to Dubbo and this is one way of doing that.”
Resident Steve Hodder yesterday remained committed to “saving South Dubbo” and called for newer subdivisions to be zoned R1 so that the city’s heritage value would not be affected.
He said he planned to speak about the issue during the public forum of the council meeting today (Monday).
He urged other community members to attend, and if they wanted to speak to register with the council by 3pm.
“The South Dubbo residents are not opposed to development and progress; many of them rely on it for their livelihoods,” Mr Hodder said.
“They just don’t want to be sandwiched between a fried chicken shop and a block of flats.
“The rezoning proponents, and the mayor, say that type of thinking is ridiculous and development of that kind will never happen; and maybe it won’t, but under the R1 zoning it could.”
