Wade Street Coolamon residents fight council over light industrial precinct

Coolamon Shire Council is planning to build a light industrial precinct along one side of Wade Street on land that is zoned to be used, with consent, by businesses including timber yards, funeral homes and liquid fuel depots.

Residents say they are concerned about increased pollution and traffic on their centrally located thoroughfare, as well as what they fear will be a detrimental effect on the "character" of their heritage country town.

Occupant Geraldine Gradon said she and her neighbours hadn't opposed the initial rezoning of the land, which their council approved in May last year, because they weren't made aware of the location.

"What was missing from the public notices was the words 'Wade Street'. Without this information, the proposal seemed like a progressive idea [and] needless to say, there were no objections from Coolamon residents," she said.

Coolamon Shire Council is now proposing a 21-lot industrial subdivision for businesses to build on the currently empty ribbon of land between the railway line and the road.

Mayor John Seymour said council would review individual development applications for all of the lots and assess whether each business was suitable.

He said he very much doubted whether a liquid fuel depot would be built on the street.

The council's development application for the subdivision will need to be assessed by Temora Shire Council, as an impartial third party, before it is approved.

Mrs Gradon said residents discovered council's plans in November 2020 when they received letters from an electricity supplier alerting them to potential works on the block of land.

Their council then sent letters to residents on February 17 of this year, telling them they had until March 12 to make submissions regarding its proposed industrial subdivision.

Denise Hunter, who has lived on Wade Street for 60 years, said residents would welcome the precinct if it were built on another "more suitable" site.

Mrs Gradon agreed, saying she was worried about increased traffic in close proximity to the nearby Catholic church and primary school.

But Cr Seymour said his council had purchased the land in order to build the precinct and that he was determined to see the development take place.

"It is just one of those attitudes, that, 'I don't mind that idea but I don't want it in my backyard'," he said.

"It's progress. One way or the other if we can encourage small business into the town it's got to be good for Coolamon.

"It's a democratic society and if they want to take it further then so be it."

He expects the development to be approved within the next few months, but said council would review any submissions made by residents about the proposal.