After 11 years and more than $1 million in investment, the owners of a block of land in Medowie close to the town's facilities can finally begin work on their dream housing development, Tall Trees Estate.
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Port Stephens Council voted to approve the 39-lot Torrens Title subdivision, despite the concerns from a neighbouring resident of dust, noise and the development's potential impact on flora and fauna and most particularly the local koala habitat.
A safety issue with traffic entering and exiting the Medowie Road property was overcome when all parties, including the Local Traffic Committee, agreed to a left-only entrance and exit once the newly constructed roadway is completed.
A relieved Darren Sampson, one of five Port Stephens families behind the $20 million Tall Trees project, said that work would commence immediately and that "we look forward to delivering a boutique development" on the 5.5 hectare lot.
"After 11 years of going backwards and forwards with the council planners we are now very happy. We have put in four years of solid work [since the current development application was submitted to council] and it's a great relief for all involved to finally receive approval. It's been a very stressful and costly exercise," he said.
"Tall Trees will be a one-off opportunity for those in the market for affordable housing close to the shopping centre. There are seven stand-alone houses already approved, and we hope that most of the land will be duplexed and some lots consolidated to cater for townhouses as per the Medowie Strategy.
"We already have very high interest. There is high interest in a n eight to 10 unit complex on three lots. And the larger lot there is growing plans for a complex with pool, gym and other facilities.
"[The development] is set in the town centre - with only a 200m walk to all services including Woolworths, Coles, medical services and speciality stores - but is literally surrounded by tall trees and native animals. This is a great place to down size or retire with land starting from $235,000 a lot."
To overcome the removal of 108 koala feed trees, the developers will be planting an additional 1200 trees.
Cr Giacomo Arnott said that while he was pleased there had been a compromise on the left-only roadway exit, he was not convinced that the koala pathway would be maintained and voted to have his name recorded against the decision.
Cr Chris Doohan said there was much to like about the low cost, high density development and the compromise reached over the left-only exits. "Just as importantly this aligns with the Medowie Strategy," he added.
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