The proposal was put before the planning and development meeting on September 30 and was rubber stamped at the ordinary meeting of council seven days later.
Benalla has been affected by an under-supply of properties to rent or buy for several years and this development, along with several others in the rural city, is set to help address that.
A reason for this may be housing developments struggling to keep pace with new industry and the expansion of existing businesses in, and around, Benalla.
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The likes of LS Precast and Royal Freemason's Aged Care facility have moved into Benalla and the Thales site, for example, is currently being expanded to include a second ADF supplier.
On top of this there are already several major employers in town - and all these industries need employees, many of whom would be relocating to the area.
Due to this, people regularly reach out via Benalla's community Facebook pages asking for help to find accommodation.
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And while many can find temporary accommodation, ensuring new residents stay in town with decent, affordable housing options is set to be of benefit to local business.
In presenting the planning application to the planning and development meeting, Benalla Rural City planning coordinator Joel Ingham said the sub-division would be built in six stages.
“(There will be) two access points . . . into the site from Witt St to the west and from Banksia Dve, and Wattle Dve,” Mr Ingham told councillors.
“Two retention basins for storm water will be located within the northern portion of the site with a total area of 9758 sq m.
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“And a public open space reserve, with an area of 7521 sq m, will be located within the south-east of the site.
“Most native vegetation will be retained within the public open space area.”
Mr Ingham said one objection had been received.
“The issues raised within the objection . . . generally relate to flooding, traffic impact on Wattle and Banksia Dve, noise from glider planes, provision of public open space, and provision of services, and small lot sizes,” Mr Ingham said.
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Several questions were put to Mr Ingham by councillors regarding flood mitigation and internet connectivity before Cr Peter Davis asked Mr Ingham about lot sizes.
“I note we have some 300 sq m blocks,” Cr Davis said.
“To me you can't even put an old-fashioned hills hoist on 300 sq m. Why are we going down to that size?”
Mr Ingham told the meeting that out of the 138 blocks planned, about 20 of them would be between 300 sq m and 500 sq m.
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“Most of those lots are provided on corner sites, which is where you get double fronted blocks so those blocks will get good frontage access to the street,” Mr Ingham said.
“And that is where those smaller blocks are encouraged, to provide for dwellings that can be easily designed to front onto streets.”
Several more questions were put to Mr Ingham. Planning permission passed unanimously.
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