Rodney Stevens
The Yamba Community Action Network Yamba CAN Inc. are encouraging Clarence Valley locals to support their petition to stop the filling of land in West Yamba.
The petition, available on website Change.org was launched as Yamba CAN Inc. has been told current and proposed developments on the West Yamba floodplain are having serious negative effects on existing residents.
These effects include stormwater inundation into existing properties and homes on the floodplain, increases in the instances of flash flooding impacting properties during heavy rain that are decreasing property values, Yamba’s infrastructure and road network is unable to cope with current and proposed development, the negative impact of more trucks dumping more fill which is reportedly cracking house walls and fences, resulting in home insurance being either cost prohibitive, or unobtainable, for residents.
The petition, launched on March 9, almost reached 100 signatures in six days.
Approved developments and sites that have been filled in Yamba include: a 161 small lot subdivision in Carrs Drive, Yamba (3 stages – Parklands); a 193 manufactured housing estate at 90 Carrs Drive, Yamba (Clifton); a 136 manufactured housing estate at 8 Park Avenue, Yamba; a 52 senior living small lot subdivision at 75 Carrs Drive Yamba; a 78 manufactured housing estate at Orion Drive, Yamba (71 two storey and 7 single storey buildings); a 72 lot subdivision in the Quays estate, Yamba (stage 5 yet to be released); a 6 lot subdivision in Sullivans Road, Yamba; 84 units at 4 Freeburn Street, Yamba (Caroona aged care facility); 17 apartments at 6 Yamba Road, Yamba (Habitat – 3 storey buildings); and 14 townhouses at 3 Mulgi Street, Yamba.
Proposed developments in West Yamba are a 284 small lot subdivision at 52 – 54 Miles Street, corner of Carrs Drive, Yamba (Kahuna), and one currently on exhibition is a 216 manufactured housing estate at 120 Carrs Drive, Yamba (Clifton).
By signing the petition, you are requesting that the Mayor and Councillors of the Clarence Valley ensure three key aspects are actioned:
- Council prepares a planning proposal for submission to the Department of Planning and Environment requesting that the vacant lands, which do not have development approval for subdivision, in the West Yamba Urban Release Area (WYURA) be rezoned from Residential (R1) to Conservation (C2) zoning or a mix of Conservation (C2) and Rural (RU2) based on the impacts of further development on the environment and the risk to human life and property from future flooding.
- Council writes to the NSW Minister for Planning requesting the Minister to prevent any further development on the west Yamba flood plain that will negatively impact on flooding in the whole of west Yamba township.
- Council’s engagement and notification of all matters is current, transparent, accessible, and inclusive for all Clarence Valley Council community members.
To sign the petition visit https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-filling-of-land-in-west-yamba?source_location=psf_petitions
Yamba CAN will have petitions and proforma submissions at the Yamba River Markets on Sunday 24 March 2024.