Lynda Franks is frustrated at the continued delay in her housing project and considering doubling its size. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
A farmer whose plan to build 10 townhouses near Griffith’s CBD, which has been delayed by a court battle, is considering doubling the project to 20 homes.
Lynda Franks won approval from Griffith City Council in November 2025 to build 10 two-bedroom townhouses at 10-12 Harris Road, near the Griffith Leagues Club.
But neighbouring businesses Collier & Miller and ICI Industries, which owns Irribiz, launched proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court challenging the approval.
Court documents obtained by Region show the businesses allege the council failed to properly investigate possible soil contamination and whether the site was suitable for residential use.
Ms Franks has since commissioned consultants Fyfe to carry out contamination testing, with an initial report followed by a supplementary report. A third report is now being prepared.
She said the court battle had dragged on for months, adding costs for both her and Griffith ratepayers, with council also involved in the proceedings.
“Collier & Miller will not co-operate in any way, shape or form,” Ms Franks said.
“Their strategy is to drag this out and make it as costly as possible.
“These delays prevent Griffith from having much-needed affordable housing.”
She said Collier & Miller kept moving the goal posts and asking for more reports.
“Meanwhile, nurses have to complete 18-hour shifts and paramedics and teachers are turning down job contracts that they have won because Griffith does not have adequate housing supply.”
Ms Franks said she remained determined to get homes built on the site and would increase the project if she were forced to start again.
“If we have to submit a new development application, I’ll put in for 20 one-bedroom units on the same site,” she said.
The proposed housing development is on land next to Collier and Miller. Photo: Supplied.
She also plans to seek help from the NSW Government’s new Development Coordination Authority, which aims to cut planning delays and speed up housing approvals by getting government agencies to work together.
“It’s too hard to build in NSW, there’s too much regulation and too many loopholes in the law that allow for delays in development; I hope this new authority can address that,” she said.
Ms Franks is adamant the site is not contaminated.
“We are up to our 40th sample and we are having to do a third report, even though no contamination has been found,” she said.
“Collier & Miller had their employees living in a house I owned on the same site for six years. Why weren’t they worried about contamination then?”
When the development application was originally considered by the council, Collier & Miller lodged a submission objecting to the project. The company stated it understood the need for more housing in Griffith but believed the development was in the “wrong location”. The longstanding business argued that tenants would be exposed to industrial noise, the residential development conflicted with the area’s industrial character, and traffic posed safety risks. There were also concerns the development could limit the future expansion of Collier & Miller.
Notably, these specific concerns regarding noise and traffic were not raised in the formal court challenge, which focused strictly on land quality.
The site of the proposed townhouses is zoned as mixed use, which allows for both residential and industrial development.
Collier & Miller were contacted for comment.
The matter will return to court on Friday 25 September.
