on the beat PAGE 8
life & style PAGE 14
inside TE PAGE 16
on unregistered bikes
get your knits in order
still singing the right notes
JUly 17 2013 www.newcastlepost.com.au
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Lament for Lorn land Dismay as a loophole allows development in rural-zoned area melissah comber
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loophole in the Maitland Local Environment Plan has allowed for a 12-home development in Lorn to be approved by Council, to the dismay of many local residents. The development will see the dual occupancy homes built on six lots of land that sit between Sharkeys Lane and Glenarvon Road, in a move the residents consider to be symptomatic of burgeoning urban sprawl. Mark Martin, who lives around the corner from the development and owns property on Sharkeys Lane, said that the heritage of the area has to be respected. “Lorn is a jewel in the crown,” he said. “It’s something you want to pass on to the next generation.” Despite the zoning of the land being RU1 Primary Production, which does not allow for dwellings to be constructed, a loophole in the wording of the Maitland Local Environment Plan infers that dual occupancies can be considered by Council. After initially being denied the application because it was for detached housing, the developer resubmitted, this time meeting all necessary guidelines, which Council said left them with no choice but to approve. The new application met the guidelines, which required it to account for the possibility of a 1 in 100-year flood. Council’s Executive Manager Planning, Environment and Lifestyle, Bernie Mortomore said
shiny new project Thornton will soon be home to a new business and industrial precinct, in what developer Hilton Grugeon is calling the ‘jewel in the crown’ for the Hunter economy. The Glenwood Business Park will be developed on approximately eight hectares of land at the Thornton interchange, and is set to include professional offices, business premises and a potential high quality hotel.
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tagging targeted Anti-social behaviour in Council’s firing line Page 7
Mark, Andrea, Tomara, Scarlett and Natasha Martin in front of the land to be developed
that Council will be taking steps to stop the situation arising again in the future. “The NSW standard template for the LEP does not allow a dwelling house or detached dual occupancy but does allow an attached dual
occupancy,” he said. “In this particular circumstance we have determined the DA on the current legislation. With the proposed changes, we hopefully won’t see the same situation arise in the future.”
It is too late, however, to prevent the Lorn development. “[The developer] has just taken the opportunity to exploit this loophole,” Mr Martin said. “They won’t live or enjoy life here. “It’s a gem lost.”
making of the man Jets defender picked for Man U clash Page 24
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