THE Catholic Diocese of Bathurst is proceeding with its North Orange subdivision, but the school earmarked for the location is not part of the plans.
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The 23-lot subdivision for land off William Maker Drive, to be considered at Orange City Council's meeting on Tuesday night, has been in the planning for some years after the diocese bought it for a possible school.
But the report to councillors said the applicant had indicated the site was no longer intended for the purpose.
The development application includes one 2.6-hectare so-called super lot on the southwestern corner, which will protect the endangered box gum habitat, which the diocese has offered to Orange City Council to purchase.
We've established that it's not required in the foreseeable future.
- Catholic Diocese of Bathurst financial administrator Patrick Cooper
Failing an agreement, the super lot will also be carved up into residential lots in a separate application.
Diocesan financial administrator Patrick Cooper said the need for a school had been assessed.
"We've established that it's not required in the foreseeable future," he said.
"The realisation of that land will be used to invest in another site."
Mr Cooper said capacity had recently been expanded at Catherine McAuley Catholic Primary School and work was also under way at St Mary's Catholic Primary School.
"At this point, we're far from capacity," he said.
MAP: The location of the North Orange development ...
The remaining lots are set to be 730-1250 square metres - Diamond Drive will be extended eight lots to the south where it will end in a cul-de-sac.
A neighbour entered a submission asking the woodland not be removed.
To protect the woodland, future homeowners will not be allowed to introduce weed species on their lots, fencing will be required prior to building work starting on homes and signs will be mounted warning not to collect firewood.
A condition of consent will also require one of the lot boundaries be moved away from the woodland.
A footpath will connect the subdivision to the nearby wetlands.
Due to some lots' proximity to the Northern Distributor Road, the applicant will be required to advise purchasers noise standards could restrict home design and location.
The diocese gained approval for 85 lots to the north of the site in 2014 and agreed to construct half of Platinum Parade in 2017 when the council needed the link road in order to take traffic pressure off Telopea Way.
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