Goulburn Mulwaree Council has advanced a draft housing strategy close to two Boral sites near Highland Way in New South Wales.
The Draft Urban and Fringe Housing Strategy was signed by councillors in July, and included amendments that pinpoint suitable areas for residential development to 2036.
According to the Goulburn Post, an open forum at the council’s recent meeting saw Boral metropolitan operations manager James Collins ask for land near the company’s Peppertree Quarry and Marulan South limestone mine to be excluded from the development strategy.
“(It could) facilitate residential land within 5km of (Boral’s) existing operations and within 3km of future operations,” he said. “To our mind, that would threaten viability.”
Collins also suggested there was no visible demand for residential land near the quarry. He also fears that noise from operations at Boral’s sites in certain weather conditions, though allowed for in the consent conditions, would generate complaints.
A nearby rail spur also poses an issue, as it transports product frm Peppertree Quarry with an average of 50 trains per week.
Boral’s Marulan South Operations consist of the Marulan South limestone mine, which Is close to 200 years old, and the Peppertree Quarry, which was granted approval in 2007.
Housing development in the area is still subject to a planning proposal and development application that addresses noise and similar residential issues.
CCAA encourages further NSW housing developments
Following the NSW Government’s decision to freeze stamp duty costs for new homes under $800,000 and slash costs for properties up to $1 million, Cement, Concrete, Aggregates Australia (CCAA) has stated this is a positive sign for the industry.
CCAA chief executive officer Ken Slattery said the stamp duty pause will encourage more activity in the construction industry, and more jobs in the process.
“Stimulating demand across the housing industry is an essential component of a construction-led COVID- 19 recovery, and the government’s forecast that more than 6000 first home buyers will benefit from the changes, is indeed welcome news,” he said.
According to Slattery, the construction sector and the aggregates industry that is its lifeblood can act as an “engine” for NSW’s economic recovery.
“The construction sector, supported by an efficient heavy construction materials supply chain, provides the engine for NSW economic recovery, employing, before the pandemic, some 370,000 workers across the State – and contributing around 45 per cent of the State’s taxation revenue base,” he said.
The CCAA is encouraging the NSW Treasurer to create a NSW construction stimulus package to acknowledge high land and house prices costs in Sydney, and to also retain jobs and boost the economy.
“As we continue to balance the risks of COVID-19 and seek to recover from the economic and social impacts of the pandemic, the Australian construction sector and strong housing demand will play a leading role in helping create new jobs, in NSW and nationally,” Slattery said.
