Rodney Stevens
A development application for a $79.7 million 216 manufactured home estate on Carrs Drive at West Yamba has been lodged on land adjacent to the Clifton Yamba development by the same applicant.
Described as the “The Ultimate Over 55s Lifestyle Resort” the development application for the currently under construction 193 home Clifton Yamba, DA2018/373, and DA2023/0241 for a 216 manufactured home estate, were both submitted by The Trustee for the Yamba Land Trust.
A report on the development shows the 216 manufactured home estate takes in land at both 120 (16.2 hectares) and 110 (1.5 hectares) Carrs Drive, a total area of 17.7 hectares.
Both lots sold in 2021 according to the Valuer Generals’ website, the 16.2 ha 120 Carrs Drive sold for $5.3 million in July, followed by the 1.5 ha at 110 Carrs Drive which sold for $1.7 million.
The report shows both lots which comprise the 17.7-hectare footprint of the $79.7 million estate were purchased by The Trustee for the Yamba Land Trust.
“The proposed subdivision intends to create a Manufactured Housing Estate (MHE) of 216 dwellings plus communal facilities within the land zoned R1 – residential, accessed via Carrs Drive Yamba,” the report states.
“The proposal includes a network of sealed road access from Carrs Drive with associated landscaping, storm water and sewage infrastructure.
“The entire site is approximately 17.7 ha and is zoned R1 – General Residential (10.2 ha), C3 – Environmental Management (1.4 ha) and C2 – Environmental Conservation (6.1 ha).”
Despite DA’s being received by the same applicant for adjoining properties, the applicant answered no to the question on the report “Is the project action part of a staged development or related to other actions or proposals in the region?”
Like all other projects on the West Yamba floodplain, the report says ‘Bulk earthworks to fill the site” are required to achieve the 1 in 100-year average flood immunity.
Due to the value of the DA, the Northern Regional Planning Panel is the authority that will determine if it is refused or approved.
Construction of the estate, which the report shows will require 1.7 to 2.1 metres of fill, is estimated to start in October and take three years, finishing in October 2026.
The report shows vegetation clearing, construction and operations will remove 4.9 ha of Coastal Swamp Sclerophyll Forest and 0.8ha of Coastal Swamp Oak, which are described as ‘significant impacts’ as the area is home to four species of fauna listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act.
“The clearing footprint will impact 6.9 ha of native vegetation including, 1.2 ha of highly modified regrowth, 4.2 ha of intact predominantly native regrowth, 1.3 ha of mature forest with woody weeds and 0.2 ha of intact forest,” the report states.
“Approximately 7.5 ha of the healthiest native vegetation on the site will be retained in the C2 and C3 zoned land.”
Surveys identified the area being home to the Squirrel Glider, the Southern Myotis, the Little Bent-Winged Bat and the Large Bent-Winged Bat, but no breeding habitat features have been identified on the site for threatened species.
As a result of this clearing, the developer will be required to pay a Biodiversity Offset of $1,047,851.42 for impacts to vegetation on the site.
The DA is currently being assessed by Clarence Valley Council before it is placed on public exhibition and submissions from the community are called for.