ST Vincent de Paul's plan to create an $8.84 million affordable housing development in central Albury was ticked off by the southern joint regional planning panel on Tuesday with the late addition of an access gate from Richs Lane.
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The last-minute change was adopted unanimously by the panel chaired by Pam Allan and consisting of Albury councillors Henk van de Ven and David Thurley.
The gate will restrict access from Richs Lane, but will be activated from the internal road to allow vehicles to leave the site.
Main vehicle access into the site and its 17 spaces will be via Olive Street.
Adjoining property owner, Don Lascelles, raised concerns about previous experiences with people accessing Quamby House which closed in 2013.
“What safeguard do we have that we are not going to end up with people ruining our lives or where we live?” he asked.
“I respect we need to look after people, but is it another thing where they bring people from jail and put them in the area?”
Albury Council planning and environment director Michael Keys and St Vincent de Paul planning consultant, Tim Purcell, allayed Mr Lascelles' concerns.
Mr Keys said a different clientele was being targeted in the new development.
“It's going to be a residential development catering for a broad mix of the population albeit being affordable housing,” he said.
The community centre will be operated by a project officer, but they won't live on site.
“The tenants in residence there are basically social housing and affordable housing tenants,” Mr Purcell said.
“There will be a combination of people on lower incomes and people who are on pensions of some sort.”
Cr van de Ven said the access gate at Richs Lane was important.
“It is a really serious conflict especially with service trucks exiting the site.”
