A PROPOSAL for a 32-unit housing development by Housing Plus on Forbes Road has neighbouring residents unsure about what the development will mean for them after they were informed via an anonymous letterbox drop.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The leaflet also called a meeting on Sunday to discuss the matter, but residents have questioned why they were not hearing about the development from Housing Plus.
Melanie Berry, who lives in the complex next door, said another resident had found out by chance when they came across a road contractor conducting some measurements and informed the rest of the neighbours.
"There's been no community consultation at all," Dr Berry said.
"It's not enough to say the DA hasn't been lodged yet, they have a plan.
"They've been really nice, but we don't know what it is."
If there was 10 units, that's fine, if it was 12, that's fine - we always thought it could be developed, but not 32 units.
- Lynn Bocking
While the residents have confirmed 32 units are planned, they do not know what form the building or buildings will take, whether the homes will be single or double-storey or who the housing will accommodate.
However, the Central Western Daily understands it will be a NSW Family and Community Services-funded project.
With a number of mature trees on the site, fellow resident Lynn Bocking said she was concerned they would all go due to the number of units planned.
"If there was 10 units, that's fine, if it was 12, that's fine - we always thought it could be developed, but not 32 units," she said.
Housing Plus has given an undertaking to bring plans to the meeting - the group said they hoped to have constructive discussions.
MAP: Where is the proposed location …
Housing Plus fundraising co-ordinator Rochelle Monaghan said in a statement the not-for-profit planned to consult with neighbours once a concept was developed, about two weeks before the DA submission.
"As yet we do not have a DA date, we are currently responding to council’s queries," she said.
"[Sunday's meeting] will be a two-way conversation, we will take the neighbours through the latest concepts."
Two pop-up sessions will be held on February 22 and March 7 from 3pm-6pm at Orange Civic Theatre.
Mrs Monaghan said the units would be self-contained, single-storey villas on this site, with a mix of one and two bedrooms.
They will be targeted at people aged 55 and older as affordable accommodation.
"The villas have been architecturally designed to complement the existing homes in the area, with features such as brick veneer construction, Colorbond roofing, architect's landscape plans, and facades to complement the existing homes in the area and facades in line with the existing streetscape."
She said the number of villas was arrived at in consultation with the not-for-profit's planning consultant and architect to meet Orange planning requirements for density and the plans aimed to retain as many of the high to medium-valued tress as possible.
Pending approval, the build is expected to be completed in two stages from mid-this year, and will take six months.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below …