A developer is taking advantage of a “loophole” to create a subdivision on rural land, according to one Yass Valley councillor.
Wakefield Planning wants to build permanent caravan park style housing near Gundaroo but also wants to subdivide the plots of land.
“They’re trying to find a loophole in the law to create a subdivision,” Councillor David Needham said.
The land on Shingle Hill Way has been zoned rural, with any new subdivisions needing to be 80 hectares or greater.
However, the proposal has been submitted under the old Gunning Local Environment Plan, which allows a caravan park to be built with consent.
If approved the 241 hectares would be broken into 47 residential plots under community title with the balance of the land to be a common grazing property.
Cr Needham said the development would effectively create an urban area surrounded by primary production land.
Angus Witherby, the director of Wakefield Planning, said the developer wasn’t accessing a loophole.
“We don’t need a subdivision, we can proceed by 20-year leasehold or we can proceed by company title,” he said.
“We feel it’s in the best interests of both the community and the council that we do this by community title.”
He said by allowing part ownership, the residents would be more likely to become a cohesive community.
Mr Witherby said the project aimed to revive a degraded area of land.
“We’ve got an opportunity to do some development of the land in a way that… will generate enough returns to repair the land,” Mr Witherby said.
Pick up Friday's Tribune to find out what the neighbours have said.