Orana Mall owners oppose shops at former stores depot

A planning proposal for the former RAAF Stores Depot was recently under public exhibition. During the 30 days, there were four submissions from state government public agencies and two public submissions objecting to the proposal, including one on behalf of the Bachrach Naumburger Group that owns Orana Mall.

The company's general manager Steve Gooley said: "Whilst we support the development of the RAAF land for housing, cultural and recreational purposes, we strongly object to allowing any extension of retail uses on the subject land."

"The proposed SP3 Tourist zone extends over an area of more than 3.5 hectares and any extension of retail uses over an area of more than 3.5 hectares and any extension of retail uses over such a broad area would severely undermine the existing business centres hierarchy and would be contrary to the Commercial Areas Strategy.

"Moreover, any extension of the retail uses would also be inconsistent with the Ministerial Directions that seek to protect the integrity of existing business centres and would have a major impact upon the role and function of retail centres in Dubbo."

Under the current proposal, which was recommended for approval by Dubbo City Council's Planning and Development Committee on Monday night, the site would include 22.02 hectares of general residential, 4.04 hectares for tourist development and 4.67 hectares of light industrial.

There are also 7.21 hectares which would be classed as an environmental protection area to protect the fuzzy box woodland.

Mr Gooley said he also objected to a car wash or car park on the site as they were "incompatible with the surrounding area and the vision for the RAAF precinct as a tourist and residential area".

The 50 metre transitional zone between the R1 and SP3 zones has also not been supported.

The 15,000 metre-squared area in the zone could be used for retail uses such as food and drink premises which would effectively create a new retail area, Mr Gooley said.

A decision about the RAAF base planning proposal will be made at council's October Ordinary Meeting on Monday.

If endorsed, council will make a request to Parliamentary Counsel to draft and finalise the amendments to the Dubbo Local Environmental Plan 2011 before the site can be developed.