Mitchell Shire Council will submit an amended Mitchell Planning Scheme to the Minister for Planning, updating controls within Beveridge’s original township to address increased development pressure.
The original township is classified as being about 85 hectares, comprising 88 larger rural residential or vacant lots, and 203 conventional residential lots, with the 100 Minton Place subdivision in the north of the township.
The scheme proposes to update planning controls to give statutory effect to the Beveridge Township Development Plan 2022 and the Beveridge Township Development Contributions Plan 2022 and facilitate integration of Beveridge Township into Mitchell’s urban growth area.
Cr Bob Cornish said significant work needed to be done to roads and drainage near the Beveridge Primary School to ‘bring it up to scratch’.
“Hopefully when this is all finished it’ll be a good outcome for the people in this part of the town,” he said.
Following a Minister for Planning implemented panel, council will re-cost the road bordering Beveridge Primary School using bespoke costs instead of standardised costs due to steep topography.
Mitchell Shire Council chief executive Brett Luxford said council had engaged a consultant to prepare the revised costing.
“They are still being prepared and have not yet been received,” he said.
“The revised costs are anticipated to have a higher construction cost for this road than the exhibited cost of $628,000.
“No specific estimate can be provided at this time.”
The plan allows council to collect funds or require works-in-kind for necessary infrastructure from developers that will benefit the surrounding area.
The plan as advertised will collect $10,677,420 for infrastructure projects and $738,458 for community infrastructure.
It also proposes a per hectare contribution rate of $280,837 per hectare – lower than the two adjoining PSP areas with Lockerbie North $395,000 per hectare and Beveridge Central ICP $322,000.
Council also established a development plan estimating an ultimate development scenario of 500 to 600 dwellings and an estimated ultimate population of 2100 to 2500 in the township.
The plan identifies land suitable for conventional residential development, roads and infrastructure upgrades necessary to service development.
Retaining lower density residential adjoining and near to the future Camerons Lane interchange and along Spring Street, north of Lithgow Street, is identified as appropriate due to site constraints such as topography and future amenity impacts of the change.
Council has adopted the planning scheme amendment but must wait for re-costing to submit it for approval.
“In line with the council resolution from December 2023, the amendment will be submitted to the Minister for Planning once the revised costs have been received and reviewed,” Mr Luxford said.
