Bega Valley Shire Council has refuted claims by Kiah residents Clyde and Jennie Thomas that they had been denied the opportunity to build on a 16ha lot that they purchased in 2002.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“When the lot was purchased in 2002 it was zoned 1(a) Rural (approx. 13.7ha) and 7b Environmental Protection Foreshore (approx. 2.6ha),” a spokesperson said.
“In accordance with council’s zoning strategy for the coastal catchments the land was zoned E3 and a small foreshore buffer of E2 along the eastern side for the property.
“At the time of purchase in 2002 the property had no development entitlement as it was below the then minimum 120ha lot size.”
The spokesperson said the 2013 Local Environmental Plan and E3 zoning has not impacted the ability to develop a lot as the entitlement never existed.
“The E3 zone permits dwelling amongst a wide range of other land uses. Again, the zoning is not the issue (as) the land does not meet the minimum lot size standard for that area,” he said.
Mr Thomas dismissed the size of the lot being an issue as it had the original Imlay Shire workshop slab still on there.
“There’s history of a couple of houses being on the place as well,” he said.
“These are, by and large, lifestyle blocks. It’s got everything going for it to build on. There’s people around here living on two acres, five acres. It’s like council is disregarding that.”