The large Bruxner Highway development, now referred to as Harmony Estate, is currently on display on Lismore City Council's 'Your Say Lismore' webpage.

The development proposal is asking for resident feedback on land rezoning from rural/agricultural to general residential (R1), mixed use (MU1), industrial (E4) and public recreation (RE1). Residents can have their say until 5pm Wednesday, May 1, eight days away.

One resident, Janet Bailey, and her husband own Glenpar Plantation, a macadamia farm that directly borders the south and east of the proposed new development. It has been an operating macadamia farm for over 25 years.

Janet does not have an issue with the residential lots of the proposed site, in fact, in a letter to Janelle Saffin and Lismore City Councillors, she says, "We wholeheartedly support a residential development that provides much needed housing for Lismore's flood-impacted residents, as well as new workers and families to the area."

However, Janet does have some concerns over the amount of land allocated to residential blocks, "around one-quarter of the land" with the rest to be mixed-use, commercial and industrial sites.

"Specifically, we have serious concerns about Precinct 5, the ‘General Industrial’ zone (defined as potentially either light or heavy industry). Our concerns focus on the size, placement and scale of this development and the impact this will have on the amenity and liveability of both our own property and the surrounding properties and community; our ability to continue viably farming the land bordering the industrial development; and the environmental impacts," Janet's letter says.

Janet feels the industrial land covers one of the highest points in the proposed site, creating a 'shameful eyesore at the gateway to Goonellabah', which contradicts council's intent to 'provide a positive scenic vista along the Bruxner Highway'. This land should be replaced by residential homes.

Another concern is how council will ensure water quality is maintained after a 500 cubic metre holding tank and biotreatment pond is built and a heavy rainfall event could wash potential pollutants into the pond creating a "toxic waste pond and then flowing into the dam and creeks beyond". The Tucki Tucki Creek flows through the established Goonellabah industrial site and the proposed site.

Janet also asks why there is no 'vegetated buffer zone around the industrial areas to protect people in the workplace.

"We cannot see how we can possibly continue to farm and manage our land appropriately without incurring issues from the future industrial businesses just a stone’s throw away, with only a road separating us. Furthermore, we and our neighbours are currently not being afforded any consideration as to the loss of amenity, with no inclusion of visual screening of unsightly industrial buildings that will scar the currently beautiful area in which we live. We also need to be protected from the impact of industry including threats to biosecurity, odour, dust, noise, smoke, risk of fires as well as other nuisances such as stray dogs and trespassers."

"I request that you please look into the issues raised above, that will impact not only our property, our business and our way of life but also that of many residents in the area. I believe it is critical that these issues be addressed now at the re-zoning stage of the process and not left for developers to interpret and leverage at the DA stage."

The Lismore App contacted Lismore City Council for a response to Janet's concerns and received the following reply to specific questions from a spokesperson:

Why does the Bruxner Highway plan include land zoned industrial when it is near macadamia farms?

There is a significant regional demand for flood-free industrial land. This site represents a logical extension of the existing Goonellabah Industrial precinct and detailed evidence demonstrating the strategic merit of the use of the land for industrial purposes was required by the Department of Planning and provided by Lismore Council as an addendum to our Growth & Realignment Strategy (link gars-addendum.pdf (nsw.gov.au))

Is there a buffer area between the industrial site borders and the macadamia farms?

Council’s Development Control Plan (DCP) Chapter 11 (Buffers) sets out the requirements for where new industrial land adjoins residential land. It requires a mounded and densely planted screen, as well as the following buffer distances.

There are no specific buffer distances required between industrial land and intensive horticulture (macadamia farms) as the potential for land use conflict is considered to be less than areas where people are living. It should be noted the structure plan for the site has a road on the southern side of the proposed industrial land bordering the macadamia farm, creating a clear buffer at the interface of the two different land uses.

What type of industrial businesses can be built in that area? Is any type of business excluded from being built and operated?

The permissible and prohibited uses within the E4 General Industrial Zone are set out in Council’s LEP (Link provided below). All future uses will be subject to development application approval.

https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/epi-2013-0066#pt-cg1.Zone_E4

What safeguards are in place to protect Tucki Tucki Creek from industrial water run-off?

Tucki Tucki Creek and its riparian areas are all above the proposed industrial land and will be zoned RE1 (Public Recreation) to create a public green space running through the site.

The full plans for Harmony Estate are on display and available for comment at Your Say Lismore until 5pm Wednesday, May 1 2024.