Cheap land for sale - 1.2 acres of vacant land near Crescent Head, NSW - includes two caravans!
Co-own 1640 acres (664 ha) just four kms as crow (or 4WD) flies to beach!

1.2 acre vacant land for sale on 1640 acres on mid-north coast NSW.
The cheapest way to own your own home is join a land sharing cooperative.

Total price $40,000. Phone Marcus on 0408-697189 or email oneearthmedia-go at yahoo dot com dot au

Please contact us for copies of the last few newsletters, and the full Rules & By-Laws, which members must agree to before purchasing.

1. The objects of the cooperative shall be:

(a) To acquire land for the purpose of providing low cost rural residential housing for members.
(b) To promote the development of a community of artists, musicians, artisans and craftspeople.
(c) To promote the production and disposal of agricultural products of members and other persons.
(d) To promote the principles and methods of permaculture in agriculture and horticulture.
(e) To promote and encourage a community where members and their families can become self sufficient.
(f) To provide a setting where rural re-settlement in hamlets and village clusters can evolve.
(g) To promote and encourage rural employment in socially and environmentally useful work.
(h) To preserve and protect flora and fauna on land acquired for such purpose.

 

 
Share in established land sharing co-operative for sale.

Goolawah land sharing cooperative is located on 1640 acres (664 ha) of land approx 12 kilometers south of the world famous longboard break at Crescent Head and 16 kms north of the excellent shopping and health facilities at Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast of NSW.  The town of Kempsey is within 20 kms of the property.

Goolawah Cooperative Ltd was registered with NSW Office of Fair Trading in 1999 and purchased the land with the intention of establishing a community soon after.

About 200 acres of Goolawah Co-op is cleared ex-cattle farm which is the home sites for the 80 members, and the remanding 1400+ acres is mainly SEPP 14 wetlands or natural bush.  There is a significant holding of SEPP44 Koala Habitat on the land. (SEPP is State Environment Planning Policies, and the SEPP 15 guidelines, which is the Rural Land-Sharing Communities is discussed on bottom right of this webpage - it was co-written by Bob Carr)

Each shareholding is allocated 1.2 acres (.5 ha) of land for their home site.  The home site for sale is 4kms as the crow (or 4wd) flies from Delicate Nobbys Beach, just south of Crescent Head.  It adjoins Limeburners Nature Reserve.

The home site is a gentle slope with good top soil over a clay base for the top third of the acre, then sandy loam for the bottom 2/3 of the site. Avocadoes grow well, with one five year old tree about ten feet tall, and others coming up.

The site also has some citrus (valencia orange, lime and lemon trees), three fig and pecan and apple tree all two years old. An organic vegie garden has been established on the site for four years.

Included in price are two caravans - one 22' x 9' wide (a lounge is included) which serves as the lounge room and bedroom/washroom. Another 16' van is well appointed as the dining room and kitchen.

Building materials include approx. 30 bush poles which can be used to build a roof or in the main house. Also a glass feature door (value $600), two large solar hot water panels and other materials including some tin and fencing.

A 1000 litre water tank, Honda/Onga firefighter water pump with ag fittings to pump from one of the nearby dams or the bore, and Yamaha/Rover mower. Price includes a share in a bore and dams.  The telephone line is connected to the vans.

The local council has started work on tarring the road to our gate and it looks like that will be completed by Christmas. Many thousands of dollars have been spent on acquiring DA approval and the co-ordinator reported at the May 2008 community meeting (held monthly) that she expects the DA to be approved soon.

Total price $40,000 as is where is. Phone Marcus on 0408-697189 or email oneearthmedia-go at yahoo dot com dot au
Please note that there is a fully refundable joining fee to become a member of the co-op, and that levies have been set at $300 per annum per adult member.

The last share sold in Goolawah Cooperative (as far as I am aware) was two years ago for $35000.  I truly hope that this home goes to a good family or someone that enjoys the surfing, fishing and relaxed country lifestyle.  The wild wallabies eat out of you hand here

15th June 2008

 

DA Report

To be Tabled at the April General Meeting 5/ 4 /08

Hello All,

Since the last GM Tony Reis has stepped down as DA coordinator. I (Kirsty Steer) have taken on this role in the interim. I am happy to continue in this role if community support is behind me to do so.

I’m sending my apologies for not attending today as my son is swimming in Sydney today at the high school state swimming carnival in Homebush.

In February a meeting was held at the council chambers with a number of our members attending to represent Goolawah. A letter came from the council detailing what we need to do to complete the DA application and a copy of the minutes of the meeting. Given advice from a number of qualified sources we are viewing this in a very positive way. Council is ready to complete the DA and is hoping to have this done this year.

A further letter was received from the council outlining their concern about the Potter's house being an unapproved dwelling built on Cockatoo Ridge. After phone and e-mail correspondence it seems council is quite willing to accept the building as having the status of being “uninhabitable” with a few more internal photos to show that it doesn’t have a kitchen or bathroom fitted. External photos have already been sent and the Town planner has said they show clearly that the building is not currently serviced by power or plumbing.

A number of our members have shown their willingness to be part of the DA process and also an ex-Kempsey Town planner (Tony Blue) has currently offered his assistance for free when we need further direction or contacts. This is a generous offer as sometimes just having the right engineer or contractor on a part of the proposal can go a long way to smoothing the process of paperwork.

Where to next?

1 The final photos of the Potter's house will be taken this weekend and submitted to the Town planner on Tuesday.

2 I am meeting with Tony Blue (consultant) this week to show him the surveys of Illa Langi Lane and get his opinion on where to go next in regard to planning a council approved road. He has already shed some light on how to proceed in a land dedication to council being done by the front neighbour if needed that would be much less cumbersome than first anticipated.

3 The next step is to look at the visual impact and site allocations and ascertaining which format (digital or paper based)the council requires. A number of members have already been reviewing this over the past few weeks.

Thank you for the support and willingness to help that has been shown to me over the past month that since I have been involved in this process. I would like to know that I have the communities support to proceed in this role as DA coordinator and look forward to seeing this achieved by the end of the Year.

Until next time
Regards

Kirsty Steer

 


See FAQ below

Click these images for enlargements

Photo shows entire Goolawah Co-operative - 1640 acres is shown with black boundary.  Site for sale is near the bottom SE corner.

Click photo to see immediate surrounding of the homesite as they were in 2005.  The immediate neighbours have nine children aged between 1 and 16 years old.

2005 photo shows home site's boundary before the vans were relocated on it.

Development Application (DA)

DA coordinator Report June 2008
(by Kirsty Steer)
The Council has all the required documentation. They are now processing our application!
A very productive meeting was held at council with David Launt, Kirsty Steer, council planner Greg Mews and their consultant Paul Drake. Four House designs have been submitted with the DA
application for pre-aproval. This means these plans can be used straight away or you can submit your own building application at a later date if you want an alternate design. Council road contribution fees have not been set as yet but will come as a condition of the DA. This can be appealed after the DA is through if a figure we think is unreasonable is suggested. Illa Langi lane may be given an interim approval to be left as a one lane road with tree clearing at the gate. Council hasn’t given its final word on this as yet. This is so positive! We are all very excited at where things stand with council right now.


DA CO-ORDINATORS REPORT, APRIL 2008
DA Report: ( By Kirsty Steer)
I met with Kempsey councils Planner and Consultant on 29 April 08
Council outlined what they needed to receive to complete our DA
They were keen to set a completion date and were willing to make some allowances as long as what they viewed as the most important documents were covered.
They would like our submissions to be completed in 2-3weeks. It is now 5 days since getting that time frame and we are feverishly working away at it, looking like we will be able to meet their request.
This is an excellent opportunity to get this DA through. The two council representatives were very helpful in detailing to me exactly what they wanted and what it would look like. I took lots of notes and read them back before leaving the meeting so that I had clarification from both participants that I was leaving the meeting with the right interpretation of what they wanted.
The main documents needed are: Visual impact statement, information regarding composting toilets & grey water systems, rubbish disposal and some internal mapping variations. Some of these things have been submitted in whole or part before but by giving them again now in one collated document in the new format they require seems the best course of action rather than initiating a new debate over old documentation.
The Potters house is officially “deemed uninhabitable” which means it is no longer of concern to them. (We now have this confirmed in writing).
It is not clear how long council takes once our submissions are in but they will be moving forward to the next step, hopefully by mid to late May.
This is an exciting time for Goolawah and it is great to see how people are pulling together to get things done.

See her letter at the bottom of this webpage

Title: SEPP No. 15 - Rural Land-Sharing Communities
Gazetted: 09.04.98
Abstract: Makes multiple occupancy permissible, with council consent, in rural and non-urban zones, subject to a list of criteria in clause 9(1) of the policy. Multiple occupancy is defined as the collective management and sharing of unsubdivided land, facilities and resources. The policy encourages a community-based environmentally-sensitive approach to rural settlement, and enables the pooling of resources to develop opportunities for communal rural living. SEPP 15 Guide provides guidance to intending applicants.
Link: Link to legislation.nsw.gov.au

Links to outside websites
Sydney Rental Crisis Continues - REINSW

Rental crisis predicted to worsen - ABC

Rental Crisis in Sydney

Housing affordability to worsen - SMH

Affordable Housing
What is it and why does it matter? - Sydney Univeristy - PDF file

 

 

Maria River Road Upgrade announced 8/1/2007
The following is a press release issued by local federal MP, Mark Vaille

Acting PM announces nearly $1-million for Maria River Road upgrade The Australian Government will provide $980,000.00 for a strategic local land transport project near Crescent Head, Acting Prime Minister and Local Federal MP, Mark Vaile, announced today.
The Acting Prime Minister today inspected the road with Kempsey Mayor Cr Betty Green and representatives of the Council. Mr Vaile said the Maria River Road Link project would receive $980,000.00 in AusLink Strategic Regional program funding towards the total cost of $1.2-million.
“May I take this opportunity to congratulate Kempsey Shire Council on its successful funding application towards a transport initiative that will have a positive impact in the long-term development of this important road link,” Mr Vaile said. “This project will involve the upgrade of one of the poorest sections of Maria River Road located in the Kempsey Shire.
There are times when this road has been used as an alternate route to the Pacific Highway and this work will obviously improve the gravel standard and safety potential to carry more traffic in the future.”
Mr Vaile said Port Macquarie-Hastings Council would also be increasing its road maintenance program for its section of Maria River Road through to Port Macquarie’s North Shore .
“My understanding is that Council has increased its overall road maintenance budget which will in turn benefit the Maria River Road in the North Shore area. The improvements to the northern section will significantly improve the overall trip between Crescent Head and Port Macquarie,” Mr Vaile said. Of the 30km of Maria River Road between Crescent Head and Shoreline Drive , 12km falls within the Kempsey Shire with the remaining 18km in the Port Macquarie-Hastings Local Government Area.
“The Australian Government’s commitment to local road improvements under AusLink has reached over $2-billion in the financial years between 2004-05 to 2008-09, enabling our local councils to accelerate works to maintain and improve the local road network.”
Ends…8/1/2007 Disclaimer
This message has been issued by the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS).

 

Frequently Asked Questions about joining Goolawah Cooperative

I have placed my share in Goolawah Cooperative up for sale and returned to the area in June 2008 to show interested people the land.
Since then I have received on average one or two enquiries about the land per day.  These are frequently asked questions:

What is in the Rules and ByLaws?
When you email me I can send the Rules & ByLaws to you via return email.  I will also send the coop newsletters going back to November last year so you can see what the coop has been involved with in recent times.  Please read the Rules & By-Laws before making arrangements to come and view the land - I've had one man turn up with a dog in his car - which was a wasted trip for both him and me.  The rule which is the deal breaker for most people is "No Dogs or Cats" - the coop has put this rule in place to protect the many rare and endangered species on the property, and many members prefer to have the wild wallabies eating out of our hands rather than a rottweiler.

But I have a pet cat which is old and I don't want to leave it - are there exceptions to the No Dogs & Cats Rule?
No exceptions, I suggest that you don't move onto the land until your pet has passed on or passed into the care of someone else.

Can I keep a horse?
There is also a rule stating "No cloven-footed animals" - a near neighbour runs horses and has offered to agist the horses of other members.  Perhaps you can make arrangements with him - I shall introduce you to him if this is an issue for you.

Will you accept vendor finance?
No.

Will you accept a holding deposit?
No.  There are so many people interested in the land now that I cannot take it off the market.  If you are interested, please come and look at the land at your earliest convenience.  First to pay the full price will secure the share.

What is the procedure to being ratified as a member of the community?
When you come and view the land, I will introduce you to as many other shareholders as possible.  (I can also provide you with the phone numbers of other longstanding members if you would like to speak withy someone other than me about the future of the coop - for example I am sharing a house with one of the founding members).
Once you have decided to buy, you fill in an Application for Membership Form - there are no surprises in that, it states your name, address for notices to be sent, that you agree to pay all levies, charges, share capital cost and refundable joining fee, and that you agree to be bound by the Rules of the Coop.
The refundable joining fee, payable to the coop,  is currently $1920.  This is refunded to you when you sell.  The joining fee increases by $300 every year, and reflects what you would have paid  in yearly levies, back to the year 2002.

I noticed the community wants a screening process, has that been set up?
Also, you will need to provide a signed Statuary Declaration stating that you are not a Prohibited Person under the various states Child Protection Acts, and that you have not been found guilty of an indictable offence (one heard by a jury).  There is also a Transfer of Share form, from my name into yours, for the Coops records.
New members are ratified at any monthly meeting.  Directors/Community Meetings are held monthly, and every three months there is a General Meeting.  You should come along to the next meeting to get to know everyone and be ratified.  No-one has been refused membership.

What are the rates? (levies)
The only outgoings per year is the $300 annual levy.  This can be paid in installments (usually quarterly if you are on a low income).
A few years ago, we had a special levy of $2500 which was collected from all members to pay for road works (members had the option of spreading payment of the $2500 over 3 years).  The $300 annual levy has not increased since the coop started.  Any increases will have to be approved by a resolution voted on at a General Meeting.  The annual levies can only be a maximum of $500.  The annual levy covers the council rates on the 1640 acres (including all the homesites), the running of the coop owned backhoe, tractor, slasher, tiptruck and the admin of the coop.

What is the title on the land?
SEPP No. 15 - Rural Land-Sharing Communities - Makes multiple occupancy permissible, with council consent, in rural and non-urban zones, subject to a list of criteria in clause 9(1) of the policy. Multiple occupancy is defined as the collective management and sharing of unsubdivided land, facilities and resources. The policy encourages a community-based environmentally-sensitive approach to rural settlement, and enables the pooling of resources to develop opportunities for communal rural living. SEPP 15 Guide provides guidance to intending applicants.
Here is the Link to legislation.nsw.gov.au
Basically it says: The coop owns the 1640 acres - each shareholder is entitled to 1.2 acres (0.5 ha) for his homesite - and members are entitled to sell their share and improvements. The shareholder has a "license to occupy" their designated site.  I'm not a lawyer and suggest that if you have further legal questions about the title, to contact your legal adviser.

Can I get home & contents insurance?  Can I get the First Home Buyers grant?
Both questions have the same answer - now that we (all but) have the DA (Development Application) you may put in a BA (Building Application) with Kempsey Council - once that is approved you are eligible for both H&C Insurance and the First Home Buyers Grant.  My advice is to speak with the other members about a BA :)

I've heard that there are other shares for sale that are cheaper?  I've heard that your share is overpriced?
Mmmmmm, as far as I'm aware the last share that sold was two years ago and that was for $35000.  Another member has offered me $20000 for my share and has been telling prospective buyers not to buy my share.  If you are told that there are other shares for sale that are cheaper - ask to be shown them, and if they exist, my advice would be to buy them. If you are told to wait and you'll get one cheaper, please bear in mind that there are dozens of people on the list waiting to get in at the 1999 prices - will you be at the top or the bottom of the waiting list?  Repeating, as far as I'm aware the last share that sold was two years ago and that was for $35000.

I was expecting you to send me pics of the vans. Are you planning on doing that?
As a photographer, I'd love to share my photos of the land, the vans and my site.  On 25th June 2008 I purchased a new cable that goes from my camera to the PC - when that arrives (from eBay vendor) I will place photos on this website and email everyone to let them know they're here.

  I herd about this co-operative through a friend, could you indicate if there are any further land available?
I have only have the one share for sale and am not sure if there are others on the market.  All the initial shares sold by the year 2000, and this is the first time I have offered this share for sale.

My phone is 0408-697189 if you'd like to chat and arrange a time for me to be on the land, show you around and meet your new neighbours.
Cheers, Marcus