Debate over North Arm Cove non-urban land continues

 

THE ongoing debate over North Arm Cove’s Non-Urban land zoning continues, with the North Arm Cove Rate Payers Association (NACRPA) proposing sustainable housing opportunities and development ideas.

Many lots in North Arm Cove are zoned as non-urban land, and therefore are unable to be developed on.

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Non-urban land is defined as ‘Land containing lots that only have recognition on paper and, in most cases, have no formed roads, drainage, reticulated water, sewer or electricity’.

NACRPA have proposed various forms of use that are believed to align with the MidCoast Council’s policies, however the possibility for development on these lots is not guaranteed.

The group believes that North Arm Cove could be the key to the housing crisis in the Myall Coast and Port Stephens area.

“Regional areas are booming, and will most likely stay that way in the foreseeable future, as COVID-19 has brought forward an exodus of people from the main cities, due to the new flexible working conditions,” David Buxton, a member of NACRPA said.

“Lack of places to live and rent are now commonplace across the eastern seaboard,” Mr Buxton said.

The group believes that MidCoast Council has turned a blind eye to “one of the greatest opportunities being handed to them”.

MidCoast Council are currently preparing The Draft Rural Strategy and Paper Subdivision Analysis Report are scheduled to be presented to Council for exhibition on 28 July 2021 taking this into consideration.

Mayor of Midcoast Council David West spoke about the Strategy and the future for North Arm Cove.

“In the interests of transparency, Council has consistently advised owners of land within paper subdivisions in North Arm Cove and other locations, that the rezoning of these areas to urban and residential purposes is highly unlikely,” Mr West said.

“Council is committed to evidence-based land use planning.

“In so doing we are looking at not only the financial implications of rezoning land, but also the triple bottom line economic, social and environmental outcomes that contribute to the future of the MidCoast,” Mr West told News Of The Area.

Several Background Reports that have informed the Rural Strategy were noted at the Council meeting on 30 June 2021 and these are available on the Council website at https://haveyoursay.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/draft-rural-strategy.

 

By Tara CAMPBELL

16 thoughts on “Debate over North Arm Cove non-urban land continues

  1. North Arm Cove Non Urban land must be allowed to developed in rural acreage dwellings. This will a) provide housing for a rural lifestyle. b) preserve a friendly rural environment c) solution to the housing crises and most important d) provide a viable solutions to the many such land owners ( who have been paying rates and voting for the Council members and the NSW Govt.)

  2. North Arm Cove Non Urban land must be allowed to be developed in rural acreage dwellings. This will a) provide housing for a rural lifestyle. b) preserve a friendly rural environment c) solution to the housing crises and most important d) provide a viable solutions to the many such land owners ( who have been paying rates and voting for the Council members and the NSW Govt.)

    1. Most of this blocks are under 1000m² so your idea of rural acreage dwelling in North Arm Cove won’t work. But ECO or Environment living will work. Most of the land owners would be happy for this type of built

  3. North Arm Cove Non Urban land must be allowed to be developed into rural acreage dwellings. This will a) provide housing for a rural lifestyle. b) preserve a friendly rural environment c) solution to the housing crises and most important d) provide a viable solutions to the many such land owners ( who have been paying rates and voting for the Council members and the NSW Govt.)

  4. I’m a lot owner at north arm cove for many years waiting for council to act.
    Council has been collecting money from owners for decades for road maintenance and services which as far as I see have never been provided. Now they tell us its only on paper however the money they have collected is Real.
    How about they now provide the services owners paid for and fix the roads and assist the owners to get their lots to get housing erected.

  5. Iam a lot owner for 25 years with a lot of sacrifices we have been paying our rates.
    We want to retire in our land.Sydney is becoming super expensive and overcrowded.
    We are living in the 20th century we should be allowed to build an environmental friendly house. We want the Council to consider this petition.

    1. Hi Stella
      Can I please ask if there is current access to these lots or is it just a proposed subdivision that has not been developed at all? From what I understand it is a paper subdivision which means there are no access roads
      Thanks
      Corrina

      1. Hi Corrina
        Some land in particular mine that has been pasted to me by my grandparents is on a sealed road with services metres away, but a lot of the blocks are not and those unsealed roads have been sold to private entities from the research I have done.

    2. Yes the council has continued to apply rates on these undeveloped blocks and there is no evidence of any expenditure for services in our immediate area of rate able land. It would be interesting to see council financial statements showing revenue from rates for a period of 45 years.
      I understand amenities and roads and streets in adjoining areas are maintained according to provision of public amenities but this does not give permission for ignorance to these existing registered property blocks located at North Arm Cove.

  6. I pay my rates for more 25 years .I try to find my lot.It is impossible There is no street name.The signs showing streets names are rotten.What i am paying money for?-charity?Council is not charity organisation.Should provide services for people who pay rates

    1. There are street names and Roads. Have a look at Land Titles Office
      I purchased land at NAC in the early 1980’s. All roads are established and were maintained, ie. regular grading and slashing of blocks was carried out by a contractor organised by the North Arm Progress Limited Association. This was the situation for more than 10 years, every land owner had been paying a levy for these services keeping the roads and blocks maintained in a tidy condition for easy access and camping etc.

      https://northarmcove.nsw.au/blog/north-arm-cove-property-roads-and-zoning-map

  7. I am a non urban landowner for over 30 years. We paid rates over all those years we never had anything in return from the council. The new NACRPA is working very hard to get the land rezoned. The future for NAC is very bright. For more info search for NACRPA and send a sms or text

  8. the common problem that confronts land owners in paper subdivisions where no roads exist in North Arm Cove is how do they identify where their property boundaries are located. I feel sure that somewhere in Councils archives lies the subdivision plan which with todays technology could be converted to provide GPS co ordinates , I believe that would be one step to help those who own land identify the approx boundaries , so can this be supplied by Council .what accurate mapping do they use to serve notices on property owners

  9. I purchased a block of land in North Arm Cove when I was a very young man , I am now retired, the area is my dream and yet after all these years i still cannot build , I shudder to think how much I have paid the Council for nothing

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