Condon family land offer to go before council
A proposal by the Condon family of Lennox Head to donate land to the public will be discussed at Thursday’s Ballina Shire Council meeting.
At an Environment Committee meeting at Ballina Shire Council on August 9, an extraordinary proposal was put forward on behalf of joint venturers the Condon family and Indigo.
The proposal, as explained by local town planner Steve Connelly, is to give the majority (63%) of the 9.059 hectare lot that is Condon Hill to the community to be preserved for eternity.
Margaret Condon, her sister Monica and brothers Noel and Leon Condon all attended the meeting along with other extended family members. Their mother Cecilia Condon, who lives on the property, was unable to attend because of age.
The proposal put forward by the Condon family and Indigo is for a predominately 6(a) Public Open Space zoning. The site is currently zoned 1(d), which means urban investigation. Currently the hill is inaccessible private land owned by the Condons, whereas under the new proposal the land would be given by the Condon family to Ballina Shire Council to be dedicated for eternity as public open space.
“The idea is that it is accessible as passive open space to be enjoyed by all,” outlined Steve Connelly, “like an enormous park, retaining the characteristics that make it truly iconic in Lennox Head”.
At the meeting Mr Connelly said: “The proposal is to dedicate the hill, free of cost, with two strings attached.”
The two ’strings’ were that the hill be named in honour of its patriarch, Samuel William Condon, and that Ballina Shire Council enter into a legal Deed with successors to never rezone the hill to develop it for commercial purposes.
The Condons would retain only 3.38 hectares of land on the outskirts of the hill, being 1.32 hectares around the existing family home, 1.03 hectares adjacent the medical centre and 1.03 hectares for low-scale residential development. The land that is proposed to be retained has been selected on the basis that if it were to be developed in the future, the development would have little or no impact on the views enjoyed to the hill and from the hill.
At the meeting Council resolved to ask staff to report to the next Council meeting on August 23 about the proposal. At this meeting a vote will be taken to put the plan on public exhibition.
Councillors spoke in supportive terms of the proposal with comments such as “It’s inspiring”, “We’re on the track”, “…applaud the Condon family for their patience and perseverance” and “there has been a lot of work go on with landowners, their partners and the Condon family trying to work with what the community has stated in the past and come up with a workable compromise. I applaud the approach that has been taken”.
Councillor Keith Johnson noted: “I have no problem with the process taking a long time. Once the rezoning is done it will apply for a very very long time so it is appropriate to get it right in the first instance”.
“This process should result in a wonderful outcome for all concerned,” said Steve Connelly. “The Condon family have a solid history of providing land to the Lennox community that dates back to the early 70s.”
The Condons have provided land for infrastructure required to service and improve the quality of life for the increasing population of Lennox on six separate occasions so far. On each occasion the land was provided for little or no financial compensation.
“All along it was our plan to open the hill up for the general public,” says Margaret Condon. “We wanted to dedicate it in the memory of our father.
“I have asked for a memorial plaque to be placed on the site, in memory of Samuel William Condon, who purchased the land in 1962 and worked it until his death in 1991. We wanted to donate it because we realised the value of the land. Not from the perspective of looking at it, but from the perspective of those who have the privilege to look from it. We realise what a beautiful and special spot it is.”
History of Condon Hill
The Condon Family have called Lennox Head home for the past 45 years. Bill and Cecilia Condon purchased the property on North Creek Road in 1962 for the primary purpose of operating a dairy farm.
Bill carried out dairying until 1972 when the Dairy Industry Association made several changes to legislation, the major one being the introduction of bulk milk. Bill then ran beef cattle on the farm until he passed away in 1991. Cecilia still lives on the property, which has continued to run some beef cattle to this day.
The Condons have provided land to the Lennox community (either as a donation or for very small financial compensation) for infrastructure required to service and improve the quality of life for the increasing population, on six separate occasions so far.
1. In the early 1970s the Condons provided land for the reservoir so that water facilities in Lennox Head could be upgraded.
2. In the mid 1970s the family donated four acres of land to the Catholic Church for the construction of a new church for the Catholic community.
3. In the mid 1970s the Condons provided half an acre of land for the Telstra shed, enabling an upgrading of the communication system in Lennox.
4. In the late 1970s land was provided for the realignment of Ballina Road and North Creek Road.
5. In 1992 construction began on the Lennox Head bypass. The Condons provided approximately seven acres of land for the bypass, which divided the farm in two and resulted in the added responsibility of building yarding facilities for cattle on the second section of the farm. This road has taken the majority of traffic away from the village centre, enabling the village atmosphere to prosper and continue to this day.
6. During the late 1990s the family agreed to a boundary change, which enabled construction of the current medical centre.
A few years ago the Condons were forced to look at alternatives for the property. It was no longer feasible to continue running it as a farm as the property is completely surrounded by residential areas and increasing rates and maintenance costs rendered this impractical.
PICTURES: The view looking north from Condon Hill (above) and looking towards Lennox Point (below).
August 27th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
[...] * See Ballina Info’s earlier report. [...]
November 11th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
What a wonderful article! It doesn’t surprise me at all that the Condon family are making such an outstanding contribution to the community, thus ensuring this beautiful piece of land is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike for many years to come.
I knew Noel Condon quite well in the late 80’s before moving out of the area, and his family were highly regarded in the community with Noel participating in the local cricket team and his mother Cecilia, actively involved with the Catholic Church.
I remember the ‘old’ house as having an air of quaint charm and old worldliness that stood for many a year after the new ‘home on the hill’ was built, the seemingly endless rolling green hills on the property, ‘Bill’, his dogs and cattle and of course, Cecilia who made the best sponge cakes on east coast!
I wish them all the best and look forward to visiting that part of the country in the near future to enjoy (undoubtedly) one of the most beautiful views the area has left to offer.
Pauline Appleby
Director
All Purpose Software
(Canberra)