GROWING pains in the transforming southwest corner of Lake Macquarie was a hot topic of discussion at Monday night's council committee meeting.
Lake Macquarie councillors endorsed the rezoning of a 4.5-hectare parcel of rural land in Wyee to residential for a potential subdivision of up to 50 dwellings, but not without reservations.
Freshly-elected Independent West Ward councillor Anthony Swinsburg was the sole vote against the motion, citing the land at 1377 Hue Hue Road's close proximity to the M1 Pacific Motorway.
"We're going to be placing future residents in the predicament that they're going to be within 100 metres of the M1 Motorway," Cr Swinsburg said.
"I understand noise impacts statements have been done. I know in the future it comes down to buyer beware concerns."
The three community submissions during the public exhibition raised potential noise issues due to the proposed subdivision's close proximity to the M1.
Cr Swinsburg also pointed out that any future widening of the motorway would further impact the proposed housing estate.
Wyee and Morisset have been identified as the biggest growth areas in the Hunter over the next 20 years. It is forecast the population will grow from 18,093 people in 2021 to 32,322 in 2046.
Cr Swinsburg said various community members had spoken to him of their concerns about the failure of infrastructure to keep pace with housing development.
"I think there perhaps needs to be a greater sustained emphasis on informing residents of those particular plans [for Wyee] and what's coming down the road," he said.
Liberal West Ward councillor Jason Pauling agreed the site was "not ideal", but said housing supply was critically needed.
"It's almost cute that people are not living there yet and don't even have houses yet -renters, inspiring first-home buyers - and that people are so concerned that they might be a little uncomfortable, that they will deny them the opportunity of home ownership," Cr Pauling said.
"That perplexes me and reeks a little bit of nimbyism."
Labor North Ward councillor Brian Adamthwaite said more housing stock was needed in Lake Macquarie and this subdivision, which neighbours the existing Radcliffe housing estate, would have minimal environmental impact.
"It is a location that isn't wooded with trees and that koalas aren't living in," Cr Adamthwaite said.
"Not a lot of wildlife will be dispossessed and it's next door to exactly what's happening [already]."
A motion was also unanimously passed for the council to spend $12,000 of its Donation Program equally on six local organisations.
The recipients were NSW Justices Association (Lake Macquarie Branch) for Justice of the Peace desks in Edgeworth, Bonnells Bay and Cameron Park; the Fathering Project the Toronto Multi Purpose Centre to upgrade the lighting; the Healing Path to Wellness to install window frosting at their suicide prevention space in Charlestown; domestic violence program Friends with Dignity and Many Nations United Newcastle for their participation in the NSW Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge.
