Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the subdivision of 13.5 hectares of land at Sherwood and Wakeman roads, just north of land identified for the proposed Huntly Railway Station.

The land was identified as suitable for residential development in the 2009 Huntly Township Plan, but its development was brought forward ahead of other sections of land after Viewpoint Huntly was almost completely filled.

The applicant took the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after council took too long to make a decision, waiting on the outcome of another VCAT ruling.

Whipstick ward councillor Andrea Metcalf said while she understood that some rural residents in the area would have concerns about Huntly’s growth, the land had been set aside for almost 10 years.

She said the failure to immediately align with the 10-minute neighbourhood policy was just one factor.

“The 10-minute neighbourhood clause does not specifically state that development can only occur within a 10-minute walk or cycle from services identified as daily needs,” Cr Metcalf said.

“It’s unrealistic to expect a greenfield development site such as this, the development of services such as shops, employment, community facilities and public transport is going to precede that of residential housing.

“I would expect the applicant to argue the proposed extension to Waratah Road would very likely place the development within a 10-minute bicycle journey to the Huntly township.”

The 137 lots range in size from 308 square metres to 704 square metres, including four lots for medium density housing. Frontages will be from 11 to 18 metres.

Related: Twenty years of land available for housing in Bendigo’s urban growth boundary

It is planned to be complete in three stages, and is one of five sections of land identified in the Huntly Township Plan for residential development. The township plan was incorporated into the council’s planning scheme after it went before a planning panel in August 2010.

The plan set a target of adding 4400 people and 2079 dwellings to Huntly by 2030.

In September 2014, the Hermitage Development Plan was approved for the land.

Roads will be further developed to connect it to the Viewpoint Huntly estate, and the main township.

The land between Tuckers Road, Wakeman Road and the railway line were identified for the proposed Huntly Railway Station, which the Labor state government has promised to build by 2023.

Huntly is one of four greenfield areas identified for residential growth, along with Strathfieldsaye, Jackass Flat and Maiden Gully.

Whipstick ward councillor James Williams said he believed that Bendigo’s services were being developed in time with the growth in housing.

“People say ‘where is the infrastructure?’ Well we’ve got a world-class hospital, (Napier) Street is being duplicated at the moment. We talk about a train station, public transport was unavailable a few years ago, we now have regular bus services out to Huntly,” he said.

”We have gradually seen the centre of Huntly develop. There’s a planning application with us at the moment for a proposed service station. Other amenities are coming.

“Moving on to the next stage is an indication of how quickly this city is growing and we are providing the services and assets that are required, the infrastructure to grow this city.”

The matter will go before VCAT on October 16. 

Councillors voted unanimously to support the applicant.

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