Lennox To Boom

ONE of the biggest land releases in recent times at Lennox Head is now before the State Government for approval.

The Pacific Pines residential subdivision is expected, on approval, to bring an extra 1750 residents to the village, living in 480 homes in a mix of residential lots, duplexes and small affordable housing. The development also is to provide 310 retirement units with a maximum height of three storeys.

The $60-million site is off Hutley and Montwood drives, and bordered by Meadows Drive, Karalauren Court and Fox Valley Way.

Luke Whistler, development manager for Petrac, which is the company behind the proposal, said the much-needed sporting fields would be the first part of the development to be completed.

He said 23 per cent of the project would be open space, which will include parks with large fig trees, a natural spring, revegetation zones and a wildlife lake.

The area has been zoned residential for more than 20 years.

In May last year, Petrac held a public workshop and distributed a booklet to local residents outlining its plans for the development.

At the time, the Lennox Head Residents' Association gave the proposal the nod.

Darel Vidler, president of the Lennox Head Combined Sports Association, said at the Save Williams Reserve celebration several weeks ago that he welcomed the new sports fields to be provided at the Pacific Pines estate.

But he said those fields promised by Petrac wouldn't be enough to cater for the growing village, and that Williams Reserve still needed to be retained as an active sporting field.

The Pacific Pines development will be on public exhibition until April 18.

The Development Application can be viewed at the Department of Planning website www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/major_projects.asp. It is also available in hard copy from Ballina Shire Council.

Submissions can be sent to The Director, Coastal Assessments, Department of Planning, GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001.

Mr Whistler said work could start on the site as early as June, depending on the approval process, and residential lots could be released for sale towards the end of the year.