Fears of a Glossodia ghetto

A Facebook group formed on September 21 called ‘Action Group against Proposed Glossodia Caravan Park’ protests against the proposal, collecting more than 700 members in 48 hours.

Residents opposing the development held a community meeting on Monday night, and wrote to Council saying the DA was not in the community’s interests.

The application requests the demolition of an existing home and shed on the 8.36 hectare property at 66 Wattle Crescent. The site, which backs onto Howes Creek, is currently zoned R2 low density. It would need to be rezoned R2 residential, where average lot size per caravan would be 150sqm. 

The DA estimates the cost as $723,250.

One resident said on the Facebook group ‘‘It would be ridiculous to approve the caravan park. Glossodia is NOT a tourist destination! The park would be purely for people who are disadvantaged, underprivileged and homeless due to the lack of public housing’’. 

The main objections residents raised with Council were an increase in traffic on a non-curbed street with no footpaths; an inadequate sewerage system that would require ongoing pump-out and heavy vehicle access; more strain on water supply and water pressure; site is in a fire corridor with only one exit point; current amenities are not sufficient to meet the needs of extra people, and public transport is a single bus route with limited services. 

Residents were also concerned that the DA asked to remove up to 600 trees and didn’t promise any infrastructure upgrade.

Council’s director of city planning Matt Owens said the DA was on public exhibition until October 23, and no assessment or decision had yet been made. 

‘‘If it were approved there would be numerous consent conditions that would govern the operations of the site,’’ he said. 

‘‘The operator of any of these sites is responsible for compliance. 

‘‘They are also responsible for the legal and orderly operation of the site.’’