Cowes-Rhyll Road subdivision planned
Subdivisions proposed for Cowes and San Remo.
More than 80 trees and shrubs will be cleared to make way for a proposed 16-lot subdivision on the Cowes-Rhyll Road.
A planning permit for the subdivision at the Blue Gum Estate at 35 Cowes-Rhyll Road – in the general residential zone – is currently out for community feedback.
The permit states the block sizes will range between 506m2 to 865m2 with two reserves on the 1.3 hectare property, which has a vegetation protection overlay.
Concerned residents took to social media to highlight the subdivision will see a lake on the land filled in with “still no provision for any recreational spaces, playgrounds or the like”.
“And there's a pedestrian only exit onto Rhyll Road,” the concerned resident said.
An arborist report states a field survey of the land was carried out in May 2019, finding 84 native and exotic trees and shrubs will be removed, or about 0.4 hectare.
“The property itself is largely devoid of native vegetation but for a few small patches and three scattered native trees,” the report states. “All other vegetation on site is comprised of exotic, or non-indigenous native trees and shrubs which have been planted or have become naturalised on the site. Opportunities to avoid and minimise native vegetation removal at the site are extremely limited.”
The report states trees and shrubs protected by the vegetation overlay were not “significant from a conservation perspective, and they do not form part of a recognized wildlife corridor”.
“The site is surrounded on its north, east and west sides by residential development and borders a narrow strip of roadside vegetation in the south.”
The developers will be required to pay for vegetation offsets and the subdivision does not generate the requirement for a public open space contribution “as this contribution has already been paid in a previous subdivision”.
Some on social media opposed more subdivision, arguing Cowes was becoming a suburb, while others said it was reasonable given it was in town boundaries.
More planning
A new permit for a four-storey mixed use apartment building at 125 Marine Parade in San Remo is being sought and is in the early stages of development with Bass Coast Shire planners.
