SOME residents of Wagga's northern suburbs have backed the creation of a new neighbourhood, but fear the existing infrastructure will not cope with hundreds of new homes.
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The planning proposal to appear before the council at Monday night's meeting looks to create up to 750 housing opportunities by rezoning land adjacent to Estella and Gobbagombalin on Old Narrandera Road.
Gobba resident Shantal Armstrong said most people are supportive of growth in the city's north, but the angst comes from inadequate infrastructure that cannot support existing residents.
"I think everyone is looking forward to the suburbs growing because it's obviously very family-friendly and there's a lot of interest in this area," she said. "The growth and the want is there, but residents are frustrated because the planning of infrastructure for these developments are not."
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Ms Armstrong said the road network is struggling to cater for the current suburbs that are also without a shopping centre. She said smaller neighbourhoods including Tolland and Glenfield Park are supported by supermarkets, but the northern suburbs are still missing out.
"We have nothing and there will be four suburbs out here," she said.
Gobba resident Alex McKenzie said he agreed that a new suburb is a promising step for the area as far as growth is concerned. But, he said it will only exacerbate the existing issues related to traffic flow and the bridge.
"The main concern is those traffic lights, they're an ordinary solution," he said.
Earlier this week, the state government announced traffic lights will be part of the $20 million upgrade to the Old Narrandera Road and Travers Street intersections of the Olympic Highway.
"It isn't going to fix anything. The same amount of traffic is still going to be there. We're just going to stop it with traffic lights and bank it up more, especially if they want to put more people out there," Mr McKenzie said. "Duplicating is really the only solution ... if you're going to make more suburbs north of Wagga."
Committee 4 Wagga's chief executive Alan Johnston said it is important to remember these new homes are not going to appear overnight, but the idea of additional housing is exciting.
"They're all valid comments, but it's a matter of how the timeline unfolds," he said. "The appropriate planning with the council and the road surfaces and infrastructure will have to be in place. Obviously that suburb cannot go ahead without it."
He said the proposal must consider spaces for commercial services, however private enterprise will ultimately control if the land is taken up for a shopping centre.
Councillors will vote on the planning proposal at Monday night's meeting.