Amendment to Holtze to Elizabeth River Subregional Land Use Plan

Written on 01 April 2022.

Hello Everyone,

This is closing on the 15th of April 2022. Please return to this page as we will be updating over the next few days.

PROPOSAL TO AMEND NT PLANNING SCHEME PA2022/0011 PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE NT PLANNING SCHEME 2020 TO INCLUDE THE HOLTZE TO ELIZABETH RIVER SUBREGIONAL LAND USE PLAN AS A POLICY DOCUMENT AND CONSEQUENTIAL UPDATES TO THE LITCHFIELD SUBREGIONAL LAND USE PLAN AND DARWIN REGIONAL LAND USE PLAN.

You can download the document here: 112379353_Explanatory_Documents_Optimized.pdf

We have reviewed the documents provided as part of the proposed amendment and have provided the following summary of our concerns:

• Areas such as the natural catchments, which are prone to constraints such as flooding, should exclude any residential development in these areas. It would be unnecessary for residential development to occur, only for this community to be subjected to damage and/or destruction as a result of known area flooding.

• We are concerned that in the absence of a Regional Conservation Strategy, development will occur which will impact upon natural environments and areas of environmental value.

• We support the identification of paperback swamp, east Tiger Brennan Drive/ Tivendale Road as a conservation area and believe this status should remain unchanged.

• We are concerned of mention that “…property along the Stuart Highway will become increasingly attractive for commercial uses…” (p. 22) and as a result, will have potential impact upon current green space.

• We are concerned that the Howard Springs North Investigation area, south of the Main Road and part of the Howard Springs North (Pine Forest), will ultimately encroach and impact upon the Howard Springs Nature Park.

• We are concerned that “…the (former) Commonwealth Defence establishment land ‘Kowandi North’ (Kowandi), and conterminous Crown land to the north and east creates the potential for approximately 5000 dwellings to be developed in the near to mid-term through staged land releases” (p. 24). As a result, this will impact upon the ‘open space’ and/or ‘conservation’ site area.

• We support mention that “any future land use change across the Howard Springs North area should consider the potential of retained natural areas to support both organised and passive recreation” (p. 26). The Northern Territory should retain as much natural area for community benefit and use and should not be subject to development.

• We are concerned of mention that “…a large part of Virginia South-West is constrained by either soil waterlogging, storm surge, or exposure to biting insects” (p. 28). Given that the area is prone to storm surge, future development of the area would be inappropriate. It would be unnecessary for residential development to occur, only for the community to be subjected to damage and/or destruction as a result of known storm surge issues.

• Previously the accepted distance was 1.5km for biting insects. Nick Note

• We are concerned about mention of future development in the Archer and Mitchell West Focus Area. As the proposed planning scheme amendment document mentions, “(b)oth areas are affected by seasonal waterlogging and storm surge” (p. 30). As mentioned previously, given that the area is prone to storm surge, future development of the area would be inappropriate. It would be unnecessary for development to occur, only for the community to be subjected to damage and/or destruction as a result of known storm surge issues.