Fears for Lower Hunter job security and rental market stability have weighed significantly on considerations of a proposed mining camp near Singleton in a blow for proponents.
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Singleton Council has recommended the joint regional planning panel refuse the Mac Group application for the 1501-unit demountable village because it has failed to meet environmental, safety and social considerations.
The $101 million proposal sent shockwaves through the housing sector, reverberating all the way to Rutherford, which resulted in more than 1800 submissions to Singleton Council most in opposition to the village.
Reasons for council’s refusal filled nearly three pages and included incompatibility with the rural zoning, issues of evacuation in a crisis such as a flood, and sewer access.
The authors also expressed concern about a lack of detail in the Mac Group application. They said the socioeconomic assessment from the Mac Group made a number of assumptions that could not be substantiated.
“Whilst the applicant has advised they will only construct the proposed development should there be demand, this does not account for the fact there will be troughs, that may result in adverse impact on the Singleton housing market, after the development is built,” town planner Alison Clark said in the report.
The proposal for a mining camp had raised concerns throughout the Hunter and in Maitland that it would facilitate a change to fly-in, fly-out work arrangements for the mines.
“We’ve seen Mac Group villages in Queensland and slowly the mines change their rosters to suit FIFO workers, which affects locals,” CFMEU Northern District secretary Grahame Kelly said in April.
The Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Development Panel will consider the development application and Singleton Council’s 77-page submission on October 10.
The council will also discuss the matter on Monday night.
