Condon Hill handover moves a step closer
Ballina Shire residents are a step closer to owning the iconic Condon Hill in Lennox Head’s town centre after a meeting of Ballina Shire Council.
Just two weeks ago an unexpected proposal was put forward by joint venturers the Condon family and Indigo to donate the hill to the community to be used as open space for eternity.
At the Ballina Shire Council meeting it was agreed to pursue the proposal through a detailed investigation.
During the councillors’ discussion Mayor Phillip Silver noted: “This is one of the best outcomes I’ve seen between planning laws and community concerns. It’s a very good outcome for Lennox village.”
Pending a successful investigation process the proposal will then be incorporated in the forthcoming shire-wide Local Environmental Plan due for exhibition in April, 2008.
“We are very pleased with the motion passed by Council today as it indicated their willingness to further investigate our proposal,” said Noel Condon, one of seven children of landowner Cecilia Condon who lives on the hill.
“Finally a clear direction has been achieved and I congratulate the councillors for their resilience on this matter and their determination to achieve a balanced approach that is beneficial for all in the community. We are looking forward to working with council staff.
“We feel the dedication of the hill is important and are very pleased that this is moving forward. I am sure our late father is also happy with this. He really was a generous and caring man and our efforts now are dedicated to him.”
The Condons propose to donate the majority (63%) of the 9.059 hectare lot known as Condon Hill to the community to be named in honour of Samuel William Condon. The hill would be rezoned 6(a) Public Open Space so that residents and visitors to the area could access and enjoy it. Currently it is inaccessible private land.
The Condons would retain only 3.38 hectares of land on the outskirts of the hill — 1.32 hectares around the existing family home, 1.03 hectares adjacent the medical centre and 1.03 hectares for low scale residential development.
Sam Tancred, Sales Manager from the Lennox Head Professionals, said: “It hasn’t surprised me what the Condon family is offering. Over the years the family have been quite willing to donate back into the community. The value of this donation is not only financial as the hill is priceless in terms of its aesthetic contribution to the lives of those who are lucky enough to live here. But if you had to put a dollar value on the land being donated it would come into the multi-millions.”
Cr Peter Moore spoke in supportive terms of the Condons, stating that they were ‘truly locals in the community’. “I have respect for what they are bringing forward,” he said. “Let’s be real. This is their land. Isn’t it great that we have landowners prepared to work with the community.”
* See Ballina Info’s earlier report.
