The family has responded to community concerns in relation to its development application (DA) for the subdivision of 62 residential lots and four large lots, to be known as ‘Yarrah’, at 60 and 82 Laidlaw Street.

One of Yarrah’s key selling points is its close proximity to Yass River and many have wondered how its corridor is intended to be used.

The Walker family has said it will develop 6.55 hectares of the river corridor for public use. “Approximately 1.6 kilometres of river frontage within a 40-metre riparian will be added to public space, providing enjoyment to all residents of Yass for an endless array of activities,” the family said.

Yass Earth Movers manager Andrew Field said at a public forum last month that he was worried the proposed site entrance near 60 Laidlaw Street would impact vehicles turning into his business. He was also worried about the increased road use from the development.

But the Walker family said Laidlaw Street “was a part of the old Hume Highway and, as such, traffic movement studies have demonstrated that Yarrah would not have any adverse impact on the traffic flow”.

The family also said that its engineering team was looking at a design that would address Mr Field’s concern about the entrance.

A neighbour to the development, John Hoey, also raised  his concern at the forum that there was contamination on the site from an old petrol station on Laidlaw Street.

A 2018 EPA document shows there is contamination from the former Mobil Depot at 54-58 Laidlaw Street, but that it is being regulated under the Contaminated Land Management Act.

Yass Valley Council is also working with Mr Hoey to understand when and where he saw the contamination.

Local historian Susan O’Leary questioned the block sizes at Yarrah and whether they would fit with Yass’ rural and historic landscape. If approved, the block sizes would start at 450 metres square and go up to 899m2.

The Walker family said the design of Yarrah “focuses on the need for social cohesion, recognises and understands that not everyone wants large lots, strata titled or community association units, but rather freehold low maintenance lots with comfortable modern houses.”

Yass Valley Council is expected to vote on the DA at its ordinary meeting on December 19. The land was approved for residential development several years ago and this application is for subdivision only.

Use of the four large sites is slated for a child care centre, medical centre and hotel accommodation, and would need separate approvals.