The population growth in Bonny Hills and Lake Cathie will ‘certainly change the dynamic’ of these areas, says First National Real Estate principal Stewart O’Brien.
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The stage five release of land at Rainbow Beach Estate kicked off on Saturday, November 10.
The release featured 39 blocks of land which will be accessible from a new roundabout.
Mr O’Brien said the blocks are ideally situated next to Lake Cathie Public School and two sporting fields.
A proposed future town centre is also located 300 metres away from the site.
Mr O’Brien said the Rainbow Beach Estate features 680 blocks in total. He expects it will take between 10 to 15 years to complete the sale of the land, across 20 stages.
Mr O’Brien said the increase of population will change the dynamic of Bonny Hills and Lake Cathie.
“It’s progress at the end of the day,” he said.
Bonny Hills Progress Association president Roger Barlow said residents have been anticipating this growth and majority of people will say the necessary infrastructure is not in place.
“They don’t see roads as being adequate now,” he said.
Mr Barlow said the population increase will put pressure on existing facilities, including Rainbow Beach Reserve which is already crowded during the holiday periods.
He doubts the village characters of Bonny Hills and Lake Cathie will remain.
Mr Barlow said it’s up to the association to keep putting pressure on the appropriate organisations, to develop the facilities and infrastructure to cater for growth.
Mr O’Brien is positive Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has planned effectively, to implement infrastructure for the population increase.
Council’s Urban Growth Management Strategy projects the Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills will experience significant population growth in the period to 2036.
The area is anticipated to be the second fastest growing urban area in the Port Macquarie-Hastings.
The plan outlines the population is set to increase from 6,300 in 2016 to over 10,000 by 2036.
The strategy also includes planning for a new light industrial area to serve the growing population in Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills.
Forty five blocks of land were sold in the stage four release of land at the Rainbow Beach Estate.
Plans for a 165-place child care centre and state of the art swim centre at the Rainbow Beach Estate have been lodged with council. The site for the facility is on 5167 square metres of land.