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Housing

Armidale Council Votes to Partner with Homes NSW for Duval High School Site Development

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Armidale Regional councillors have made a landmark decision to partner with Homes NSW for a potential housing development on the Duval High School site. The proposed partnership aims to create up to 150 new homes, including 12 affordable and 13 senior homes. The former Duval High School site, currently owned by the Minister for Education, has been deemed surplus to requirements. This unique opportunity seeks to revitalize the site, which has been vacant since 2019, and utilize a council-owned neighbouring parcel of land at 17 Grandview Crescent.

Key Takeaways:

  • The partnership with Homes NSW aims to develop up to 150 new homes, including 12 affordable and 13 senior homes, at the former Duval High School site.
  • The site, currently owned by the Minister for Education, has been deemed surplus to requirements and has been vacant since 2019.
  • The council-owned neighbouring parcel of land at 17 Grandview Crescent will be merged with the Duval High School site to form the housing development.
  • Councillor Susan McMichael expressed concerns about sacrificing a public site for education and raised issues about a concentration of social housing creating a "ghetto".
  • Critics of the development, including Councillor McMichael, argued that demolishing the site may have negative consequences and that the area has a strong community connection.
  • Deputy Mayor Todd Redwood described the site as an "abomination" and considered using it for housing the "sensible option".
  • The motion was passed unanimously, with no construction expected in the immediate future.

Statistics:

  • Up to 150 new homes could be developed at the former Duval High School site.
  • The proposed development includes 12 affordable homes and 13 senior homes.
  • The site has been vacant since 2019.
  • The partnership involves merging the former Duval High School site with a council-owned neighbouring parcel of land at 17 Grandview Crescent.

Sources:

  • Jacob McMaster, Armidale Regional councillors vote to partner with Homes NSW for potential housing development.
  • Armidale Regional Council minutes, Ordinary Meeting - 9 August 2022.

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