Dust has become the new sticking point and stalled the development of an $8.9 million rural land-sharing community that aims to reinvent rural life on a 112-hectare farm at Butterwick.
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With three homes already completed at the Shepherds Ground Farm and Village in Green Wattle Creek Road, the developers were back before the council on November 13 seeking occupation certificates for the remaining 27 homes approved by the council.
They have been put on hold.
They were also hoping to settle a four-year battle over responsibility for the cost, expected to come in at around $400,000, of roadworks for a 400m strip used to access the property.
Councillors voted to defer a decision pending a roadworks funding report.
Resident Hilton Goldfinch, representing two families impacted by flying dust that he claims was caused by trucks access the farm, said that the authorities had a duty of care for the health and safety of residents.
“We are suffering due to the dust, we can’t hang out washing on the line, we can’t grow anything in our gardens, our dogs can’t drink the tank water and we are constantly changing our water filters,” he said.
“It was our understanding that the road would be sealed before construction commenced.”
Lucie Bruvel, founder of Shepherds Ground, said that while she recognised the need to contribute to the cost of the road, the council also had a responsibility to upgrade the road and “there’s just no way we should have to foot the entire bill”.
“The wording of the original condition was ambiguous and its intent is an unreasonable impost on our community,” Ms Bruvel said.
“Shepherds Ground is a not-for-profit, social enterprise offering sustainable, affordable housing options and farming tenure – $400,000 for 400m of road would never be within our reach.”
“It’s important for the community to realise that the road is 2km from our front gate and the council was responsible for relocating the Hinton Wallalong Pony Club, which is increasingly being used as a sporting venue.
“If Shepherds Ground went away tomorrow, council would still have to deal with the issue of dust on this road and it’s very likely that under the SRV the entire road will be sealed by council within a few years anyway.”
Ms Bruvel said that the community would continue to work with the council towards a solution to be presented at the next council meeting on November 27.
“We have had dust experts and a traffic report done which recommended only 300m needed to be sealed and that our projected traffic movements were well below average.”
Cr Ken Jordan was adamant that the cost of roadworks should be borne by the community developers.
Shepherds Ground timeline
- April 2014: Plans for idyllic village
- October 2014: Delay on Shepherds Ground approval
- June 2015: All systems go for Shepherds Ground
- October 2015: Worimi welcomed to Shepherds Ground
- December 2015: Butterwick development must clear road hurdle
- June 2018: First three hemp homes cultivated at Butterwick
