The Lennox Wave - Petrac Plans
01 May, 2007
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Last month the Petrac roadshow rolled in to town. A big top was erected in the centre of Lennox Head and residents were invited to participate in a planning workshop.
Around 30 petrac staff came along to help facilitate this community workshop – and this included the CEO, designers, townplanners, engineers, marketing specialists and a workshop convener. On the opening Friday night local turnout was smaller than hoped, but over the weekend involvement increased, with a large crowd turning out on Tuesday night for the final presentation.
The idea is a worthy one – involve residents now in the fine-tuning process of a project that already has approval and will go ahead at a determined size and structure.
Whether we like it or not, there is very likely to be 600 new dwellings constructed in the Pacific Pines Estate in the valley West of the Lennox Head township and North Creek Road. The development has preliminary approval and, pending further consultation between the developer and council, concept plans and Stage 1 Development plans will go to the Department of Planning within months.
The new section of the Pines Estate will include a community centre, tavern, medical centre, sports fields, shopping precinct, arts and community facilities, and a retirement village. All of this will be situated around a lake, incorporating parks, walkways and green space. Houses will be designed according to guidelines that will ensure the estate maintains a particular character consistent with coastal and more “sustainable” living.
Most controversially, Petrac planners have also suggested that the Lennox Head public school be relocated to the Estate. An idea that met with significant resistance, despite the fact that population changes will mean that more of our primary school-aged children will live on the West side of North Creek road within 15 years.
But while you can never please all of the people all of the time, Petrac’s “Enquiry by design” is certainly a good start to pleasing some.
Feedback from participants was generally very favourable. Locals Pennelope and George who live in the existing Pines Estate were concerned about some of the traffic issues and how they might affect residents who are already living in the area. “We do have some personal concerns about our street, but we have been very impressed with what they have been saying. It really sounds as if they care,” Penelope said.
Local real estate agent Lois Buckett was also impressed. “The process is great and their ideas are interesting. People don’t want to live in a brick and tile suburbia. They are looking for something different, something more liveable and sustainable,” she said.
Ross Richardson and his wife Margaret live on the Eastern side of North Creek Road and are concerned firstly with the construction phase when heavy vehicles will need access to the area.
Said Ross, “The process is good, but we don’t have the infrastructure. Our roads are a mess. We have to get trucks and earthmoving equipment in to build and then afterwards traffic levels will increase. Traffic is already bad on Montwood Drive.”
“And the idea of moving the school down there, well that’s just crazy.”
Councillor Alan Rich who attended as an observer, was also in favour of a process that involves residents. “It is great that they care. Consulting at an early stage is likely to increase the chances of the development being successful in the long term,” he said.
If you would like to find out more about the Pacific Pines Estate and Petrac’s Enquiry by Design, go to www.enquirybydesign.com.au