Residents of Minmi have expressed shock and concern after a major property developer applied to significantly reduce its obligations for community consultation on a large-scale housing project.
Developer Seeks to Modify Consent Conditions
Winten Property Group has lodged an application with the City of Newcastle to modify a key condition of its development consent. The original condition, imposed by the Hunter Central Coast Regional Planning Panel (HCCRPP) in April 2024, required the developer to establish a formal Community Consultative Committee for its project to create 858 housing lots and 23 super lots for future residential and commercial use in Minmi.
The mandated committee was to include an independent chairperson, local residents, and representatives from both the developer and contractors. It was required to meet in Minmi to discuss the project and resolve disputes, following state significant development guidelines for distributing information and providing public minutes.
Community Reaction: 'Very Unsettling and Worrying'
Kathy White, a member of the community group Communities for Sustainable Development Minmi, said locals were deeply troubled by the move. She argued the original conditions were established precisely because residents lacked trust in the developer due to past experiences with earlier stages of the project.
"We're just shocked to think that this has been set up to protect us, to give us a voice and to know what's happening, and they're just trying to water it down now," Ms White said. "To hear that they want to change these conditions and make it difficult for us to find out what's going on is very unsettling and worrying."
The community's concerns were initially heard by the planning panel during assessments for stages three, four, and five of the development, where residents complained about how stage one had been carried out.
Winten's Proposed Alternative Strategy
In its application, Winten argues that formal community consultative committees are typically reserved for high-impact projects like mines or major infrastructure. Instead, the company has proposed a Local Community Consultation and Education Strategy, which was approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure on 8 October 2025.
This alternative strategy includes:
- A project website.
- A newsletter or letterbox drops for major milestones.
- On-site signage.
- Community meetings only if more than 10 people RSVP, with an option for one-on-one meetings.
A City of Newcastle spokeswoman confirmed the modification application is currently under assessment and is on public notification until 4 December 2025. The council is also liaising with the HCCRPP to confirm which body is the consent authority for this specific modification.
Newcastle Labor councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk noted the area was once identified for its conservation value, a character she said had been largely lost. She framed the consultation requirement as an opportunity for Winten to improve the project's design and environmental sensitivity over its decades-long lifespan.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure stated it does not have a position on Winten's modification request. The Newcastle Herald's attempt to contact Winten Property Group for comment was not returned.
