Rodney Stevens
When there’s talk about land development in Yamba, Carrs Drive inevitably comes up in conversations…so how did these developments come about and how many houses are planned?
In 2010, amendments to the 2001 Maclean Local Environment Plan saw the 127.4-hectare West Yamba Urban Release Area (WYURA) come into effect.
In 2015, Clarence Valley Council CVC adopted amendments to the Residential Zones Development Control Plan DCP 2011 to insert general urban release area provisions, plus specific controls for WYURA.
The DCP anticipates WYURA is capable of yielding 1144 dwellings/lots based on 10 single dwelling equivalents per hectare, although developments have indicated 12 dwellings/lots per hectare is possible and more likely.
Information from CVC shows there are four developments at different stages in the WYURA.
(a) 22 Carrs Drive – approved – 161 lots over 3 stages (under construction)
* Stage 1 approved and new lots in the development released.
* Stage 2 approved. Construction yet to commence
* Council holds a bond from developers to upgrade Carrs Drive.
* Additional fill is required for stages 2 and 3.
* Road names gazetted by council in 2021 – Bushy Street, Collins Way, Garvin Street, Kohler Drive, Mitchell Street and Peacock Street.
(b) Lot 1 Carrs Drive – approved – 193 manufactured homes (under construction)
* Modification to DA from 200 to 193 sites
* Modification to DA from 193 to 197 sites, increased visitor parking and amended internal roads (being assessed by council)
* Approval conditions require upgrading Carrs Drive.
(c) Lot 2 Carrs Drive – approved – 53 seniors’ units and two lot subdivision (construction not started)
* Two lot subdivision completed
* Conditions require upgrading Carrs Drive
* Filling of site required.
(d) 52-54 Miles Street – Kahuna No1 – proposed 295 lot subdivision – withdrawn by developer
* 295 lot staged residential subdivision, detention basins, drainage reserves and residue lot.
* In February 2022 when the developer lodged a modification to the DA to remove the maximum 1.8 metre fill height and include a detention basin plus additional fill areas – council requested more information
* A large number of public submissions were received
* Was due to be determined by the Northern Regional Planning Panel, which considers regionally significant developments valued over $30 million, on September 21, but was withdrawn on September 15.
In addition to the Carrs Drive development applications, CVC is assessing flooding impacts across West Yamba, plus flood studies and stormwater management reports submitted by developers.
Extensions to the water network and pressure sewer rising main along Carrs Drive have been completed and are ready to operate.
The fill laden truck and dog parade into Yamba will continue, with all four developments still requiring earth to be trucked in to complete required earthworks.
Motorists who are currently chattering their teeth on Carrs Drive potholes can rest assured, CVC have secured bonds from developers as part of their approval conditions, to repair damage to Carrs Drive caused by construction, including haulage of fill.
To ensure Carrs Drive is upgraded the Clarence Valley Council West Yamba Urban Release Area Road Infrastructure Developer Contributions Plan was implemented in September 2020.