A proposal to rezone a parcel of open space land at Cliftleigh to allow for residential development will be forwarded to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
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The 1.06-hectare site on Tarrango Street (at the rear of properties on Main Road) is zoned RE1 – Public Recreation.
The site was identified for residential purposes in the Cliftleigh Urban Release Area plan, but the RE1 zone was added by council as part of the final consideration in 2007.
The 40-metre wide strip of open space land was designed to provide a ‘visual screen’ between the Main Road properties and the Cliftleigh development.
The planning proposal seeks to rezone the subject site to low-density residential, which would allow for an additional 13 allotments with a minimum lot size of 450m2.
A report to Cessnock Council’s April 19 meeting said the recreational and open space value of this site is limited due to size and location of the site and the proximity of other open space within the Cliftleigh Urban Release Area.
“The proposed rezoning is consistent with the surrounding development,” the report said.
Council voted 12-1 to forward the planning proposal to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for gateway determination.
Councillor Ian Olsen voted against the recommendation, concerned that it would lead to more recreational land being rezoned in the future.
“This is supposed to be public space,” he said.
