A sustainable and prosperous future for the village of Michelago has been secured following the ordinary meeting of Snowy Monaro Regional Council in Jindabyne on Thursday 21 October 2021, with the successful vote on the Michelago Master Plan.
The vision for the area, located close to the ACT's southern border, will see Michelago's population grow significantly while respecting the rural village character and pattern of development that residents know and love.
Council's online survey for the master plan showed an overwhelming 75% of respondents supported Council's plan for the region. This level of support was gained through the survey and well-attended town meetings with Council's strategy team.
The motion before Council was to adopt the final plan, to submit this to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE), and to put this final plan on Council's website. Everyone who made a submission - in writing and online - will also be advised of Council's decision directly.
The extensive consultation and collaboration with the community ensured that the community's wants and needs were heard and understood, and that the final plan represented the will of the people and the right way forward for Michelago.
There were four speakers that addressed Council about the motion - two for and two against. The speakers for the motion were residents of the immediate Michelago area and spoke positively of both the plan and Council's consultation with the community.
One of the speakers against was a representative from GEOCON, a Canberra-based property developer with significant land holdings in the area whose own plan envisioned higher density residential development for Michelago.
The other speaker against the plan was from an area neighbouring Michelago who expressed concerns about the sustainability of water, the environment, and the preservations of the character of the village.
The vote on the motion before Council passed with all but one Councillor voting in support.
Next for Michelago is the public exhibition of the Draft Development Control Plan and Development Contributions Plan for the wider area around the village, which was passed by exception on the night.
