In unseemly urgency to densify the suburbs of Darwin, the Northern Territory Government wants to undermine rules of the Northern Territory Planning Scheme (NTPS)-again. This time the catchword is ‘DUAL OCCUPANCY’
The idea is to amend the rules so t that the Development Consent Authority (DCA) could consent to two houses on any single lot zoned for a SD(Single Dwelling). That is if it is at least 1000 square metres in area. This, it seems, could be ANYWHERE in an ordinary residential suburb. There goes choice and certainty. THIS WOULD BE IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR AN SD LOT IS 800 SQUARE METRES. THIS WOULD MAKE A NONESENSE OF THE NTPS.
Some may welcome the opportunity. However, the impact on the community and its tropical lifestyle could be greatly negative. This is densification of our tropical lifestyle by stealth.
The attachment below contains the details of the proposal – and I feel sure this is a real planning amendment, not a review. HOWEVER YOU ARE INVITED TO COMMENT. THE QUICKEST WAY IS TO SUBMIT A COMMENT IS BY EMAIL (via ‘planning@nt.gov.au’)
Address it to: Strategic Planning, Department of Planning.
Identify ‘ Planning Amendment 2011/0935′ DUAL OCCUPANCY’
Provide your name, address and contact, and list of your reasons against having two houses in each of your neighbour’s back yards.
These might include perhaps loss of privacy, loss of gardens, noise, smells,cutting off of shade and breezes, more traffic, and strained infrastructure services.
Then there is possible loss of house values, and perhaps higher council rates because of your lot’s new development potential.
