Community & Business
31 October, 2024
Rezoning on Oxley Hwy
Since 2023, Gilgandra Shire Council has been in the process of rezoning land along the Oxley Highway.
Since 2023, Gilgandra Shire Council (GSC) has been in the process of rezoning land along the Oxley Highway.
Located between Middleton Memorial Drive and Aralee Road, two lots of land have been marked for rezoning from RU1 Primary Production to E4 General Industrial.
Through a Planning Proposal, efforts to alter Gilgandra’s Local Environment Plan (LEP) have been ongoing since November last year; the final goal is to “enable the development of the Oxley Highway land for employment purposes,” according to the October 15 (2024) business paper.
“The Oxley Highway site is a strategic [industrial growth area] consistent with the 2009 Western Landuse Strategy,” it continues.
The two lots, known as Lot 11 and Lot 12, were selected for redevelopment after the withdrawal of support from the landowner of the currently zoned industrial land along the Newell Highway, requiring council to consider alternatives.
Currently, there is an approved solar farm development proposal for the land, although construction has yet to begin.
Consultation with neighbouring landowners was done in March this year; council received one submission of concern during this period, and a further two during the public exhibition period during September.
Consultation was also required with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW), and Transport for NSW (TfNSW).
None objected to the proposal, however TfNSW raised considerations for future alternative roads, intersections, and increasing traffic volume that council should take note of.
The Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure (DPHI) has indicated they are able to support council’s efforts to rezone Lot 11 and 12. Once maps have been finalised, they will be submitted to DPHI for notification.
“It is unclear the timeframe involve in the LEP making stage however this stage (being Stage 6 of the LEP Making process) is indicated to take 55 working days,” states the business paper.
