Chapter 23 - Subdivision and Development 23.5 Issue Responsibility for provision of on site services and for the upgrading and maintenance of community infrastructure and amenities to avoid, remedy or mitigate the adverse effects of subdivision/development on the environment. Subdivision The subdivision of land is a legal process which defines and records the exact position of title boundaries which may or may not be identified on the ground, but which provides a method whereby owners can obtain guaranteed certificate of title. The purpose of subdivision is to identify and set aside legally and physically, a parcel(s) of land for specific development, generally of a residential, rural, commercial or industrial nature. Effects of Subdivision/Development The effects of subdivision/ development on the environment are: • The use of water resources, either surface or ground water for human/ stock consumption, irrigation or processing purposes; • The concentrated discharge of contaminants, either sewage or trade waste; • The concentrated discharge of stormwater from structures and hard standing areas; • Discharge to air; • Access, both vehicular and pedestrian; • Effects on built environment, i.e. access to sun, daylight, views; and • Loss of open space and increased demands on community facilities e.g. parks/ reserves, library, recreation centre etc. Initially, the environment may be capable of absorbing these effects to a limited degree however, as a given area is progressively subdivided and developed these effects become unsustainable e.g. contamination of groundwater by discharge, erosion from uncontrolled stormwater discharges, over use of water resources. In addition, as an area becomes more developed, population pressure creates wider effects such as loss of open space and demands on servicing infrastructure, roading networks, community facilities etc which are not capable of catering for increased levels of use. Inevitably therefore, any development will require services to mitigate these potential adverse effects, all of which relate specifically to the site of the application. These services may include: • Effluent disposal (sewage and trade waste); • Water supply; • Stormwater disposal from buildings, hardfill and access etc; • Access; and • Electrical reticulation. 23 - 7