A NEW Branxton subsidence district was declared by the NSW government on Saturday.
The district covers a long narrow strip from south of the Branxton township in a south-westerly direction, straddling the boundary between the Cessnock and Singleton local government areas, until it reaches Rothbury.
Subsidence Advisory NSW, as the NSW government now calls the Mine Subsidence Board, said there were about 30 properties in the new district “with parts overlapping proposed development”.
It said declaring the Branxton district allowed the regulation of development to “protect future homes and structures in the area from potential subsidence damage”.
It said permission from Subsidence Advisory was now needed to subdivide or build within the declared area.
It said the Branxton district was put on display as a proposal as part of a wider review of subsidence districts across NSW in 2016-17.
It said that after feedback from stakeholders, declaration was postponed to allow for more consultation and geotechnical investigations. Slight changes were made from the initial draft boundaries.
Ian Kirkwood
Reporting journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1987. Editorial writer, general reporter, industrial relations, industry and coal.
Reporting journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1987. Editorial writer, general reporter, industrial relations, industry and coal.
