Willowdale: Stockland developer apologises for expanded road confusion

A Sydney property developer has apologised after a 3D model and other advertising failed to show a four-lane road which comes within metres of people’s front doors.

A property developer has apologised after its advertising failed to show a massive four-lane road running within a few metres of people’s front doors.

And now furious residents living along the recently-expanded Denham Court Rd in Leppington have gone to NSW Fair Trading with a string of complaints.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal three separate pieces of advertising for Stockland’s Willowdale housing estate failed to show the expanded four-lane road.

Until at least Wednesday this week the display centre 3D model, display centre poster and online map instead showed a thick slice of green space between homes and the road.

But the actual road is now 2m higher, comes within 4m of people’s front doors and has a verge so thin there’s no room for trees.

Sue and Peter Coles were upset their Leppington front yard was built so close to the road. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Retirees Peter and Sue Coles bought a two-storey home in October 2018 for $805,000.

Mr Coles said he looked at the 3D model before purchasing and assumed his home would maintain the nature strip that was advertised.

“I think the 3D model is completely deceptive and does not reflect the reality of what is there,” Mr Coles, 67, said.

“What’s online and in brochures to this day is still different to what is there now.

“We and our neighbours are in the process of making a complaint to Fair Trading.”

The 3D model shows green space which is not there because of a new four-lane road.

The 3D model of developer Stockland's Willowdale housing estate in Leppington.

Mr Coles’s neighbour Jean Pascal, who purchased his property in 2017 for $825,000, said: “If I had known that the road was coming so close I would never have bought here”.

“The sooner I move out of here the better,” the 51-year-old doctor said.

There are an estimated 20 homes impacted by the road expansion.

The DA for the four-land road was lodged in 2016 and approved in 2018. Construction started earlier this year.

Green space out the front of properties along Denham Court Rd, Leppington in 2019.

Stockland told The Sunday Telegraph earlier this month the upgrade “was earmarked for delivery within the Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Infrastructure Contribution in 2011 by the NSW Government, prior to Stockland’s acquisition of the land which is now our Willowdale masterplanned community”.

The road in late October, 2020. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Despite this, its advertising until this week still included a large strip of green space.

In a statement this week a company spokeswoman said: “While diagrams and information were presented to residents about the road widening through the community consultation process, unfortunately some of the artist impressions in the broader community marketing materials were not updated at the time the final road design plans were prepared and approved.

“These materials have since been updated to accurately reflect the road design and we apologise for any confusion and concern this has caused these residents.

“The lots fronting Denham Court Rd were sold by Stockland to customers and a third party builder in April and May 2016, and the builder subsequently on-sold its lots to customers between July 2016 and October 2018 prior to approval of the final road design by authorities.

“All Stockland contracts for lot sales included detailed information about the government’s plans to widen Denham Court Rd.”

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