Rodney Stevens
Site fences are up, and excavators have moved in signalling the start of Yamba’s Palm Lake Resort expansion by 78 manufactured homes for the over-50s.
The commencement of construction comes after planning for the expansion began before 2016.
What followed was a process requiring the developer, Palm Lake Works PTY LTD, to submit a Development Application to Clarence Valley Council, including a 47-page Statement Of Environmental Effects SOEE.
During Community Consultations, the DA drew four public submissions to council concerning aspects of the development including pedestrian access and safety on Orion Drive, landscaping, landfill, disabled access and car parking, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Orion Drive and Yamba Road.
Before the council could issue a construction certificate, compliance to multiple factors, according to the Clarence Valley Local Environment Plan CVLEP 2011, had to be met.
The compliance areas included Aboriginal Heritage, Biodiversity, Contamination, Acid Sulphate Soils, Impact on adjoining Wetlands, Access, Fire Protection, Energy Efficiency, Pedestrian Access and Mobility, Plumbing and Drainage, Sanitary Facilities and Stormwater.
In the contentious area of flood management, the SOEE details the Orion Drive site is located within a Flood Planning Overlay, as specified in the CVLEP 2011.
“The proposed development will drain into three different bio-retention systems located along the eastern and southern boundaries,” the SOEE sates.
“Major flows will be directed to the natural low point of the site, being the central drainage system and drain to the retention basins.”
The developer engaged Bitzios Consulting to undertake a traffic assessment of the Yamba Road/ Orion Drive intersection, required to satisfy (Section 138) external works in accordance with Austroads regulations.
The Bitzios Intersection Assessment found a roundabout or significant upgrades of the intersection weren’t necessary to accommodate vehicular traffic but recommended the extension of the footpath along Orion Drive.
Clarence Valley Council approved the most recent review of the DA on March 28, before issuing the construction certificate.
To be constructed in four stages, the development will include a clubhouse near the resort entrance, five roads, and three bio-basin waste disposal areas, across the 4.16-hectare site.
For the preparation of the area prior to construction, the SOEE reveals the site will be filled to different levels.
“The Clubhouse will retain a PAD Level of RL2.95m with the remainder (housing and road network) to be filled to between RL2.4m to RL3.2m” the SOEE states.
“A selected area of the site encompassing 26,8963m² of space will be filled with 12,257m³.”
The new manufactured homes on the Lot two and three Orion Drive site, opposite the existing premises, will increase the resort’s capacity from 184 homes to 262.
Palm Lake Resorts is run by a family-owned company Walter Elliott Holdings PTY LTD.
Between them, the father and son team of Walter and Scott Elliott bring more than 45 years’ experience in managing manufactured home parks for the over 50’s.
With a portfolio of 38 retirement resorts across Australia, the Elliot’s have overseen the installation of several thousand manufactured homes on premises in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
Palm Lake Resorts Managing Director Scott Elliott took to the group’s This is your time magazine to inform residents across Australia of the expansion.
“Work is commencing on our new retirement village at Yamba,” he said.
“Which complements our existing Palm Lake Resort community already in town there.”
The Independent is awaiting more information on the development from Palm Lake Resorts Management.