Highlights from meeting 13 of the Wyee West Paper Subdivision Development Plan Reference group
There were a number of additional Council staff at the meeting to provide updates and introductions from the project team, sharing the commitment to the development plan and helping to progress this project forward.
Samantha Hardie has taken over as Project Coordinator and is looking forward to working with the landowners, the Wyee community and other stakeholders to deliver a resolution for the paper subdivision. Samantha is a Strategic Landuse Planner with Council and although being more behind the scenes for the project in recent years, she’s been part of the project team since 2017. Samantha can be reached on 4921 0492 or email [email protected].
Manager Integrated Planning Wes Hain will continue to be an ongoing member of the internal project team and he reaffirmed the Council Senior Leadership Team’s commitment to the project. Wes worked to transfer the subdivision roads to public roads and has been across the complexities, and involved in trying to resolve many of the challenges, faced by the project. Wes shared the project’s importance to Council and the continued investment of resources into the project.
Council’s building surveyors Greg Brook and Michael Corrigan gave an update on the dwelling inspections. Six have been completed so far with a further 29 to be undertaken. Michael will be completing the inspections and information on dates and reporting will be provided to onsite landowners soon. Council reassured landowners that they would contact the six landowners that have had inspections undertaken to let them know more information about the process and reporting. Council also reassured that the inspections and reporting happening now would allow a significant amount of time to complete any required changes to infrastructure.
The group discussed bushfire risks and Council will update the website and distribute information on actions that landowners could practicably be doing to reduce the risk. Representative of the Wyee Seventh Day Adventist Church, Barry Chapman, was a guest and he offered to liaise with the local Rural Fire Service department about including the paper subdivision in their management of the area.
A set of interim engineering plans were available to review and a number of challenges including the gas pipeline and stormwater drainage were discussed. The group also discussed energy services and the opportunity for more sustainable or eco-living infrastructure options. The proposed draft engineering plans are expected to be received by Council at the end of the month. Once received, Council will have to opportunity to review and respond. When the plans reflect the best options and outcomes possible, the project team will consult with this reference group and landowner groups.
Once the engineering detailed design is completed, Council will engage quantity surveyors to prepare detailed cost estimates for the roads and infrastructure.
The Reference Group was also asked to consider how Council could improve engagement with landowners. Much of the activity over the last 12 months has been undertaken by consultants and there were few opportunities to share new information with landowners. Council has made a commitment to deliver more regular communication to landowners through mailouts and email and have more information available on the website including frequently asked questions (FAQs) and fact sheets.
Share your communication preferences or an idea for engaging landowners via Ask the project team a question.
Andrew Donald expressed his thanks to the group for their valued contribution to the project over his time as Project Coordinator. It has been one of the more complex and rewarding projects of his career at Council and he wished everyone the very best going forward. We congratulate Andrew on his new opportunity and wish him every success.
