ALBURY Council has called an extraordinary meeting on Monday night to deal with a major commercial sub-division proposal in Thurgoona which requires the removal of around 250 trees.
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The proposal for two initial commercial lots also includes an extension of Diamond Drive from Table Top Road to Thurgoona Drive and creation of an Aboriginal heritage construction exclusion zone in the north-east section of the site.
Council recently approved a $3.6 million service station and fast food outlet which will adjoin the proposal put together by developers Glenn McCabe and John Mee who bought the site nearly a decade ago.
The prominent corner block has been identified as the location for a “major neighbourhood centre” within the Thurgoona-Wirlinga growth corridor.
An extraordinary council meeting has resulted due to councillors requesting they deal with the development application.
The two proposed commercial lots are both 2500 square metres in size with a residual development lot of 4.4 hectares which will contain two drainage basins to also serve as habitat for Sloane’s froglet.
Earthworks will also be carried out in an area which can be impacted by flooding and will have an impact on sub-surface Aboriginal objects.
It is recommended the development application be approved, but among the conditions of consent is the need for an Aboriginal heritage impact permit.
If human remains are found the permit holder must not harm the remains, cease work at that location and notify police.
There will also be a stop to work if a threatened species is discovered.
Completion of Diamond Drive, the two commercial lots and stormwater detention system requires about 100 trees to be removed.
But the applicant has requested about 250 trees be chopped down to enable extensive earthworks for future development.
The trees have been identified as revegetated growth from about 20 years ago.
