City of Coffs Harbour Council is proactively leveraging Voluntary Planning Agreements to bring forward critical infrastructure to support growing communities across two key locations in the local government area.
An informal track near Opal Cove Resort will be upgraded, formalised and made accessible for walkers and bike riders following the adoption of a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) between the City and a developer. The resulting three-metre wide gravel path will remove a ‘missing link’ in the public path network at Korora – as it will connect James Small Drive to the existing walking trail at Pine Brush Creek Bridge.
“The new path will be built at no cost to the community and the developer will also hand over a small parcel of land to the City to ensure the path remains entirely on public reserve,” said City Planning and Communities Director, Ian Fitzgibbon.
“Voluntary Planning Agreements can often achieve a better result for the community than the standard applicable developer contributions, providing opportunities to secure additional community infrastructure and bring forward the delivery of essential assets sooner.”
A VPA is a legal agreement between a developer and a council which sets out contributions (public benefits) that a developer agrees to deliver in association with a development approval or planning proposal. While they are tied to a development application (DA), they are administered as an independent process and cannot influence whether a DA is approved or refused.
The Opal Cove, Korora VPA attracted 16 submissions during a public exhibition period, some of which questioned the appropriateness of the proposed path.
“The proposed gravel surface is consistent with the existing path network throughout the coastal reserves and it strikes an appropriate balance between durability and environmental sensitivity,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
The VPA is tied to a DA for a subdivision of land which if approved would see the creation of three community title lots, demolition of existing Opal Cove Resort structures (including pavilions and tennis courts), environmental protection works and dedication of land as public reserve. The DA by PT Investments Group Pty Ltd has been lodged with the City and is progressing, Council stated.
At its June meeting, Council also authorised the General Manager under delegated authority to finalise and execute an amended VPA between the City and INA Plantations Pty Ltd. The VPA will support the delivery of a new roundabout and road works outside a large over 55s housing estate in West Woolgoolga.
The arrangement will see a roundabout at the Newmans Road-Solitary Islands Way intersection, an upgrade of Newmans Rd and additional works including water and sewer main augmentation, enhanced pavement, fencing, and the relocation of power.
“This highlights the City’s proactive collaboration with the housing industry to deliver key infrastructure ahead of development, ensuring an improved intersection is in place prior to occupancy of the nearby subdivision and over‑55s housing estate,” said Mr Fitzgibbon.
The total cost of the works is put at $6.497 million, with Council to contribute $3.966 million.
