Albury Council adopts rural land strategy for Splitters Creek and Table Top

The heightened bushfire risk from increased population levels in Splitters Creek was one of the biggest issues raised when the matter went before council earlier this year.

It has recommended council only consider future development in areas where roads, water supply and fuel load can minimise risk to existing and future residents and emergency services personnel.

RFS has no objection to land facing Riverina Highway being developed to minimum two hectare lot sizes.

But its concerns remain in place for areas in the upper reaches of Splitters Creek including Bretton Valley where a minimum four hectare lot size can be created with the exception of one property at 5 Bretton Road.

It is located on the western side of an existing waterway and has been separated from areas of high fire hazard.

Some Bretton Valley landowners had suggested the bushfire risk in the Splitters Creek area was overstated and impacts and threats could be dealt with under bushfire protection guidelines and on a property or development specific basis.

The RFS has raised the possibility of Splitters Creek Road being extended to Centaur Road in Lavington to assist in the event of an emergency.

Following an 11-month community consultation period, the council received 45 submissions regarding the strategy.

Mayor Henk van de Ven said it was undertaken to cater for future growth and demand for rural residential style living in Splitters Creek and Table Top.

"We need to balance residents' desire to subdivide with the need to protect the environment and avoid over development," he said.

"We don't want to lose what makes these areas special.

"We also have to manage a lot of other factors such as fire risk and access for emergency services, water supply and traffic."

It will guide future changes to the Albury Local Environment Plan (2010).