The results of the community feedback regarding rezon­ing in Old Beach have been published to the Brighton Council website, after the Council and ERA Planning & Environment Consul­tants (ERA) conducted a survey of two precincts in rural Old Beach living areas to determine whether it could accommodate further residential development.

According to the Brighton Structure Plan (BSP), by 2033 the Brighton Lo­cal Government Area is expected to have grown by over 7000 people. With the population of Old Beach and its surrounding areas growing at an average rate of 3.5% per year, the prediction is that housing for an approximately 3000 additional residents will be needed over the next 11 years. To help accommo­date this growth, the Brigh­ton Council is looking at two precincts in Old Beach to investigate their suitabil­ity for rezoning. Precinct A is land surrounding Old Beach Road, south of Clar­ries Creek, and Precinct B is land surrounding Comp­ton Road.

The Old Beach Zoning Review project sought to engage with the commu­nity to determine current residents’ attitudes towards change, identify charac­teristics and amenities in the area that should be retained and/or developed, and identify concerns regarding future develop­ment. The survey received an impressive response rate with 72 responses recorded from 104 proper­ties in the study area. The results showed that roughly half (48%) of respondents were open to change, and over 80% stated privacy and serenity as the most desirable characteristics of their community areas. The most common concerns expressed by respondents were increased traffic, loss of privacy, and a fear of high-density housing. Roughly half of respon­dents said they would like to see a ferry to the city and more safe transport options.

If you have any questions about the project or the engagement process, you can contact Brian White on 6268 7070. To take a look at the full results of the survey, visit www.brighton.tas.gov.au/community/have-your-say.