Not so simple to subdivide

By Kate Taylor

A grazier’s application to subdivide his Pentland Hills property has been deferred by council.
The request went up before the February 19 meeting of council’s Development Assessment Committee (DAC) and was to divide the Dunbar Road farm into one 1.5Ha block containing the driveway and house in the centre of the block and have a separate title for the surrounding 16.6Ha of farmland.
While the application was just for the subdivision, three objections were received including concerns it would set a precedent for the area to have subdivided properties with houses on them.
A report tabled at the meeting by a council planning officer noted that in a meeting with the applicant, he (the farmer) said the vacant lot would be perfect for someone to build a house on it and have it as a lifestyle property as the land around it is perfect for being ‘lightly grazed.’
However, the report recommended refusing the application, noting surrounding lots are far more than 40Ha in size and fragmenting agricultural land like this would not be a good idea and does not align with the rules of the zone.
“This application is not an orderly planning outcome for the area,” the report reads.
Nobody appeared at the meeting to speak to the item however, East Ward Councillor Tonia Dudzik moved a motion to defer the item, with Cr Tatchell seconding the motion, which was passed. West Ward Councillor Tom Sullivan was not in the room for the item as he had a conflict of interest, having consulted with one of the parties.