Narara Ecovillage Co-Operative has moved forward with stage two of its growth, submitting a development application to Central Coast Council for a 43 lot residential subdivision, including essential service infrastructure.
This infrastructure would include roads, power, water, sewage and telecommunications and associated works at 33 Gugandi Rd, Narara.
Stage two comprises about 3.6 hectares of the site, which overall encompasses almost 63 hectares.
The vision for the site is “to research, design and build a stylish, intergenerational, friendly demonstration ecovillage at Narara, blending the principles of ecological and social sustainability, good health, business, caring and other options that may evolve for our wellbeing.”
The co-op acquired the land from the Department of Primary Industries in May, 2013.
It had been operating as the Gosford Horticultural Research and Advisory Station.
A number of the former horticultural and research buildings and structures remain on the site.
Stage 1 consent comprised the community title subdivision of the site, the demolition of various structures and buildings and the provision of essential servicing infrastructure.
This consent established the broad principles for the future staged development and houses are currently being constructed on the lots created by the first subdivision.
As part of stage two, a greenhouse would be demolished and 40 trees and the remnants of the citrus orchard and plantings of the former Horticultural Institute within the Stage 2 site would be removed.
The stage one perimeter road would be extended through the Stage 2 site providing direct access onto Research Rd, and a new internal loop road would be accessed off Gugandi Rd.
The proposal went on public exhibition on March 25.
Already one person has submitted a response to the plan.
That person said that they had had several near miss head on collisions with vehicles making a right hand turn from Research Rd into Fountains Rd, because the vehicles were making the turn on the wrong side of the road.
‘’The increased traffic from the Eco Village, especially during school hours, means that more vehicles are making this turn to avoid traffic outside Narara Valley High School,’’ the submission stated.
The person, whose identity was redacted on the council website, asked for a complete review of current traffic management in the area.
“Personally, I would prefer a concrete division instead of double lines at the intersection of Fountains/Research Rds, as this would prevent the “cutting” of the corner from both directions and would also prevent drivers from performing U-turns in the intersection,” the submission stated.
The proposal is on public exhibition until April 17.
Source:
DA 58072, DA Tracker, Apr 7
Central Coast Council website