July 22, 2013
by Dafyd Martindale
Developers who want to build new sub-divisions in the South Burnett will have to build proper infrastructure before they can begin erecting houses.
That was the clear message that came from the SBRC’s monthly meeting last week when a request from a Blackbutt property developer to be relieved of some of the costs involved in kerbing and sealing a common road next to their development was turned down.
The rejection shows a new resolve by the council that situations like the Memerambi housing estate – where houses were built before access roads and related infrastructure were laid to them – won’t be allowed to occur again.
The Blackbutt issue began in March this year when the SBRC gave the go-ahead to a proposal by Leigh and Cecile Gault to reconfigure a lot at 23 George Street, Blackbutt into 27 residential lots.
The approval was given just a month after the council gave the go-ahead to a separate proposal from another developer to build a 123 lot residential development next door in Pine Street.
The two developments will be separated by an extension of Margaret Street, which is currently an unformed road.
So when the council approved the Gault development, the SBRC suggested the two developers share the cost of kerbing and sealing that street equally since it would service both projects, and set specifications for the width and quality of the roadworks and associated kerbing that would need to be built.
A Decision Notice to this effect was forwarded to Mr Gault in April.
But last month he requested that two conditions – relating largely to the roadworks – be modified on the basis that his development was smaller, so he should pay less than half the cost of the Margaret Street roadworks.
Councillors, however, refused to budge.
“I think we’ve learned that it is unwise to allow development to proceed without infrastructure,” Cr Cheryl Dalton said.
Cr Keith Campbell was of the same opinion.
“I agree with Cr Dalton,” he said.
“It’s tough for Mr Gault, I know, but it’s best for the area.”
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