The application proposed the development of approximately 3600 homes, commercial space and parklands as part of the residential project to revolutionise future living in the Castle Hill Showground precinct, as well as the dedication of 720 homes to affordable housing for first home buyers, service workers, veterans and the disabled.

Showground Corporation managing director Joe Chiha said he would dispute the council’s decision before the State Professional Planning Panel, claiming the alternative to the masterplan would be a “cookie cutter fragmented development”.

“Realistically, we always believed that our proposal will only get a fair assessment through the State Government process with the Greater Sydney Commission and we had planned for this outcome,” he said.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN

Mr Chiha fronted councillors on Tuesday night last week, to champion the developers vision for dedicated open space and vital infrastructure upgrades as part of a voluntary planning agreement.

“Council has knocked back or deterred every single application in the Showground station precinct, which is extremely alarming, as this is a priority precinct.

“Our proposal focuses on delivering much-needed infrastructure, like road widening, multiple parks, childcare centres, bicycle paths, outdoor playground and gym equipment and many through site links that connected the entire precinct.”

“This is the largest and most significant planning proposal for the Showground precinct,” Mr Chiha said.

“Together we have produced a Masterplanned residential development focused on open space and critical infrastructure over the past three years.

“Our proposal sought to widen streets, dedicate 12000sq m of parkland and seeks to contribute childcare centres and affordable housing to first homeowners.”

Mr Chiha said it would be a travesty to deny the proposal during his address to councillors, claiming the alternative would be a “cookie cutter fragmented development”.

“We believe that what we are providing in terms of a liveable community should be celebrated,” he said.

The Showground Corporation’s proposal offered 90,000sq m of residential land as part of the masterplanned vision for the future of the Showground Precinct, which included more than 7000sq m of public open space, 5000sq m of public sporting fields and community amenities, as well as access to Showground Metro Station.

Councillor Samuel Uno said councillors did not allow the proposal to proceed on the grounds that the precinct’s controls were only rezoned by the State Government in December last year.

“This site provides a tremendous opportunity and I think we need to look at this site and it needs to stand the test of time,” Cr Uno said.

“The densities and floor space ratios being pursued would result in a built form that is significantly different to those controls without strategic justification.

“I admire what the developers are trying to achieve that includes additional open space and the widening of key roads, but I do not think that a 38 per cent increase in density is warranted.”

While Councillor Michael Thomas said he feared developers that come in with “incredible plans for a precinct and then onsell to other developers once a masterplan was approved”.

The Showground Corporation’s plans would have seen the development of 18-storey towers commence near Carrington and Middleton roads before several other stages of development commenced across the precinct.

ACTION GROUP SUPPORTS DEVELOPER

RESIDENTS have supported a developers bid to seek approval for the $3 billion Showground masterplan by the State Government, after the Hills Shire Council rejected the proposal last week.

Showground Residents Matter Action Group representative Paul Cook said the masterplans provided residents with a better ratio of land to building space than the council’s own draft plans for the precinct.

“It is unconscionable that the council denies the residents open parks and infrastructure that it deserves through this masterplan,” he said.

“Comparing this to the Toplace development that has no infrastructure, green space or setbacks residents are left worse off by council’s decision.

“The showground plan itself is providing the epitome of masterplanning and council continues to reject a masterplanning approach but in itself continues to approve development without suitable infrastructure.”

Mr Cook said Showground residents supported the developers bid to overturned through a rezoning review.