Killingworth Paper Subdivision

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The Killingworth Paper Subdivision consists of 24 residential lots that are owned by residential landowners and Council.

While much of the land has been rezoned for residential development, the land cannot be developed because it is not serviced with the necessary infrastructure such as roads, drainage, water, wastewater (sewer), communications and electricity. The land may also have high biodiversity values.

Council commissioned a Water and Wastewater Servicing Strategy for the subdivision which has now been assessed by Hunter Water with approval to extend water and sewer services to these lots. This approval is valid until 2023, so Council is seeking interest from landowners to potentially progress development for the subdivision.

In July 2021, Council adopted the draft Killingworth Paper Subdivision Area Plan and will amend the Lake Macquarie Development Control Plan 2014 to incorporate the draft Area Plan.

Let us know if you would like to contribute to the discussions, ask a question or be more involved in the project. Provide your email address to stay up to date with project news.

The Killingworth Paper Subdivision consists of 24 residential lots that are owned by residential landowners and Council.

While much of the land has been rezoned for residential development, the land cannot be developed because it is not serviced with the necessary infrastructure such as roads, drainage, water, wastewater (sewer), communications and electricity. The land may also have high biodiversity values.

Council commissioned a Water and Wastewater Servicing Strategy for the subdivision which has now been assessed by Hunter Water with approval to extend water and sewer services to these lots. This approval is valid until 2023, so Council is seeking interest from landowners to potentially progress development for the subdivision.

In July 2021, Council adopted the draft Killingworth Paper Subdivision Area Plan and will amend the Lake Macquarie Development Control Plan 2014 to incorporate the draft Area Plan.

Let us know if you would like to contribute to the discussions, ask a question or be more involved in the project. Provide your email address to stay up to date with project news.

  • December 2023 update

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    As of December 2023, Council has countersigned all Landowner Agreements associated with the Stage One works. This action was approved by Council at their Ordinary Meeting on the 11 December 2023.

    As a result of this action, all Landowner Agreements have now officially commenced and the first payment notices will be issued in January 2024. Amounts to be invoiced and the frequency of Payment Notices will be as per the Payment Schedule in Schedule 2 of the agreements.

    Other project developments since our last update include Council successfully renewing the expired Hunter Water approvals. The renewal has, unfortunately, required additional design works to be completed that will delay completion of the final design. These design works have commenced and we anticipate being in a position to seek quotations for the construction of Stage One works by April 2024. This should enable construction to commence by June 2024.

    Summary of works completed since our last update:

    • Council countersigned and officially commenced all Landowner Agreements.
    • Expired Hunter Water approvals for Stage One works were successfully renewed.
    • Additional detailed survey and design works commenced as a result of requirements of renewed Hunter Water approvals.

    Upcoming steps:

    • Copies of the fully signed and executed Landowner Agreements will be issued to each landowner.
    • The first Payment Notices will be issued to landowners in January 2024, as per Schedule 2 of the Landowner Agreements.
    • Design works to be progressed and finalised with Hunter Water (anticipated April 2024).
    • Quotations to be sought via a tender process for the Stage One construction works (anticipated May 2024).
    • Commence construction of Stage One works (anticipated June 2024).
  • September 2023 update

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    Council, as of this month, has successfully obtained all signed agreements from the landowners involved in the Stage One works. Unfortunately, the delay in obtaining these agreements has resulted in the project not meeting the expiry period on Hunter Water’s approval for the works.

    Council has made the necessary application to Hunter Water to renew the approvals required to proceed with the works. An outcome on the renewal is expected next month.

    As a result, the execution and commencement of payments under the landowner agreements will not commence until these Hunter Water approvals are renewed.

    Based on current expected Hunter Water timeframes, the first payment under the agreement is anticipated to be pushed back until November 2023.

    Once the Hunter Water approvals are renewed, Council will be in a position to progress towards construction and seek quotations to undertake all Stage One works (water, sewer and stormwater) via a tender process.

    Summary of works completed since our last update:

    • Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for water and sewer designs was approved by Hunter Water
    • Design completed and approved for stormwater works
    • REF for stormwater works was completed and approved by Council
    • All agreements now received from all Stage One landowners
    • Application lodged to re-new expired Hunter Water Approvals

    Please be aware that Andrejs Rubenis has returned as the primary contact for the project and can be contacted on 4921 0026 or email [email protected]

  • December 2022 Update

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    As of December 2022, Council has received letters of intent (or an agreement to purchase land) from all landowners except one.

    Hunter Water’s approval for the Servicing Strategy expires in mid-2023. We will continue to work with the landowner to hopefully reach agreement and ensure that we can meet this expiry timeframe.

    We acknowledge the desire of some landowners to progress the service extensions as soon as possible, and we are taking steps to ensure that by that mid-2023 expiry deadline:

    • landowner agreements are provided to owners, and reviewed and executed
    • final approval from Hunter Water is issued
    • Council will commence contractor engagement.


    Since our last update:

    • Council has engaged a legal consultant to draft landowner agreements. These landowner agreements have been delayed due to ongoing discussions with landowners. Once agreements have been drafted, they will be forwarded to landowners/their legal representatives for their review.
    • We have worked with the water and sewer design consultant to prepare a submission for a Review of Environmental Factors and detailed design to Hunter Water for final approval. A response expected from Hunter Water in January 2023.


    We hope to receive draft landowner agreements and written agreement with the last remaining landowner soon and will provide an update in the new year. If you have anything you'd like to discuss in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 4921 0235 or email [email protected].

    Wishing you a happy and safe festive season.

    Carlos Ferguson,

    Land Development Officer

  • September 2022 Update

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    Further to Council’s letter in June, we would like to provide an update to you regarding the proposed services extension at Killingworth paper subdivision.

    As previously noted, we have received letters of intent from the majority owners in the Stage 1 area. We have since been progressing discussions with the remaining landowners, which has included investigating options to progress discussions and the project, which has taken some time. Council’s strong preference remains to reach mutual agreement with all owners before progressing land owner agreements, to ensure any extension of services is transparent and equitable to all land owners.

    We do appreciate your patience, and certainly appreciate the benefits to all owners in progressing this in a timely manner. In this regard, Council will be hoping to progress the land owner agreements at the earliest opportunity following completion of owner discussions.

    If you have anything you'd like to discuss in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to give me a call on (02) 4921 0235.

    Kind regards

    Carlos Ferguson,

    Land Development Officer

  • April 2022 Update

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    Council has been progressing investigations and designs to facilitate the extension of services to Stage One properties within Killingworth paper subdivision. This includes:

    • Servicing Strategy approval (with Hunter Water) for the water and sewer extensions
    • Draft water and sewer designs including:
      1. Detailed survey of the site
      2. Engineering designs
      3. Approval documentation, inclusive of ecological and aboriginal heritage investigations
      4. Stormwater servicing investigations.


    Click here to see the map of the Stage One area.

    Council now requires the cooperation of Stage One landowners to progress the service extension works at Killingworth paper subdivision.

    The relevant documentation has been mailed to Stage One property owners this week.

    For further questions, please contact Anthony O’Reilly on [email protected] or phone 4921 0135.

  • December 2021 Update

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    Touching base with some quick updates on Killingworth Paper Subdivision before we close for the festive season.

    Work has continued to progress with the Stage One service extensions. Some further investigations have been required, particularly around stormwater, which have pushed our time frames back slightly.

    Despite these further investigations, we intend to be in a position early in the new year to commence discussions with you all regarding a preliminary commitment to stage costs and progression towards a formal agreement for the delivery of the Stage One services.

    Click here to see the map of the Stage One area.

    If you have any questions, please contact Andrejs Rubenis, Land Development Officer on

    4921 0333 or email [email protected].

    Wishing you and your family a happy and safe holiday season.

  • September 2021 Update

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    Just an update to let you know where things are up to for the servicing of the Killingworth Paper Subdivision.

    Since the Killingworth Area Plan has been adopted, we have been:

    • Preparing the water and sewer design including:
      • Preparation of detailed survey
      • Undertaking ecological investigations
      • Working with Hunter Water regarding their notification of requirements
    • Obtaining legal advice regarding the preparation of a legal instrument that can be entered between Council and landowners for the works, their timing and cost sharing (apportioning)
    • Investigating stormwater requirements
    • Finalising the quantity survey costing of the proposed works.

    Staging of works

    • Council is working to commence construction of services at Killingworth in 2022. After careful logistical consideration, we’ve opted to deliver construction across two stages.
    • We will be sending landowners some information about the staged works shortly by email and mailed post:
      • This information will outline how the works will be staged and items that will be included in detailed design costs
      • We anticipate that the legal instrument will be sent to landowners by the end of 2021, followed by landowner meetings in early 2022.

    If you have any questions relating to Stage One works over the coming weeks, we’re happy to arrange an appointment to speak with you in more detail.

    Please contact Andrejs Rubenis, Land Development Officer on 4921 0333 or email [email protected].

    Click here to see the map of the Stage One area.

  • July 2021 Update

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    We’re touching base with landowners about some important updates on Killingworth Paper Subdivision.

    Draft Killingworth Area Plan update

    Public exhibition of the draft Killingworth Area Plan ran between 19 April – 17 May, 2021.

    The Area Plan is scheduled to go to Council for adoption on 26 July, 2021. We received one formal submission and one question from the community which will be also presented at the Council meeting.

    If adopted, the Area Plan will be a step towards enabling Paper Subdivision landowners to lodge development applications to develop their residential lots.

    We’ll notify landowners once the Area Plan has been adopted. If, for any reason the Area Plan is not adopted at the 26 July meeting, we’ll report back to landowners on our next course of action.


    Meetings with landowners – overall costs and payment options

    We're in the process of finalising costs and will arrange a time to meet with landowners before the end of 2021 to discuss:

    • Overall costs and landowner payment options
    • Figures for construction and estimated time frames
    • Information about how construction works will likely be a staged.


    We will be in touch in the coming months to arrange the landowner meetings. Documentation associated with the above points will be issued to landowners to review and discuss with us at the meetings. All landowners are encouraged to seek their own independent legal and/or financial advice prior to discussions.

    We look forward to speaking with landowners soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions please feel free to contact Samantha Hardie directly.

    Email: [email protected]

    Phone: 02 4921 0492

  • Public Exhibition of the draft Area Plan

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    The meetings held with landowners last year brought to Council’s attention the need to establish an Area Plan for Killingworth Paper Subdivision.

    A draft Area Plan has been developed which is now on Public Exhibition for feedback.


    Public Exhibition details

    • The Public Exhibition will run from Monday 19 April – Monday 17 June, 2021.
    • You can view the draft Area Plan (6 pages) and make a submission at this link.


    If you have any questions, please direct your enquiry in the first instance to the Customer Service Centre on 4921 0333 or email [email protected].

    We will seek to clarify any questions you have as soon as possible.

  • March 2021 update

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    Landowner meetings with Council

    Thank you to all the landowners who met with Council at the end of 2020. We appreciate people taking the time to talk with us and we will use your feedback and comments as we progress outcomes for the area.

    Killingworth URA Area Plan

    The lots subject to the servicing investigations make up the majority of the Killingworth URA (Urban Release Area). We’ve identified there was a need to develop an Area Plan as a first course of action to guide the development standards for the area. The plan will allow things such as roads and individual Development Applications to be assessed efficiently and effectively to assist with the development of the area.

    We anticipate that the draft Killingworth Area Plan will go to the Council Meeting on 12 April 2021 and if endorsed, it will go on public exhibition. This will be an opportunity for landholders to comment on the draft Plan.

    Investigations to provide services

    We are looking to progress the implementation of services as a privately funded project, not under paper subdivision legislation. Our initial focus will be on providing water and sewerage services to those lots with formed road frontage.

    In mid-2021, we will provide more information on the financial models to facilitate the works as well as the proposed development approach, expected timeframes and associated costs.

Page last updated: 18 Dec 2023, 01:46 PM