$3b masterplan for Castle Hill Showground rejected by NSW Government

A last-ditch effort for the approval of thousands of homes, commercial space and parklands in the Castle Hill Showground precinct has been stonewalled by the NSW Government independent Planning Commission.

Artist impressions of the Showground masterplan residential development from the Showground Corporation.

• $3 billion masterplanned community at the Castle Hill Showground
• Hills Showground masterplan knocked back by Council
• What is included in the State Government’s Showground masterplan
• Developer appeals NSW Government decision on masterplan

A last-ditch effort for the approval of thousands of homes, commercial space and parklands in the Castle Hill Showground precinct has been stonewalled by the NSW Government independent Planning Commission.

The Showground Corporation earmarked the development of 3600 apartments — including 720 homes for affordable housing, first-home buyers and service workers — as part of the Showground masterplan.

An artist impression of the rejected $3 billion showground masterplan residential development from the Showground Corporation.

Last year, Showground Corporation chief executive Joe Chiha revealed the new masterplanned development proposal earmarked 90,000sq m of residential land, as well as more than 7000sq m of public open space, 5000sq m of public sporting fields and community amenities funded by the Showground Corporation, as well as access to Showground Metro Station.

However, objections to the $3 billion planning proposal from The Hills Shire Council and a rejected appeal to the NSW Planning Department resulted in a review by the independent Planning Commission this month.

Showground Corporation chief executive Joseph Chiha.

Mr Chiha spoke exclusively with the Times, revealing the group “remain firmly committed to bringing a masterplanned development to the Showground Precinct”.

“Our reading of the review is that the $150 million in community infrastructure offered by Showground Corporation was well-received — just as it had been by the Hills Shire Council and State Planning Panel previously.

Thousands of metres of public open space was included in the plans, to the value of $150 million.

“We are reviewing the density suggested as part of our planning proposal that pays for the community infrastructure, to see if this density can be slightly reduced to satisfy the planning bodies.

“Undoubtedly, the outcome of this review further delays the project, but we are confident that we can find a solution agreeable to all parties, and that progress can be made after nearly three years of submissions and deliberations.”

THE SHOWGROUND

Urban designers short-listed for Castle Hill Showground

Castle Hill Showground development: four residential towers proposed

Showground precinct action group calls for investigation over monster rate rise

Homes, jobs and schools boom for Hills Showground Precinct Plan

A NSW Government spokesman said the commission recommended against the Showground Corporation’s planning proposal to alter local planning controls to allow higher-density development at the Castle Hill Showground site.

“The Hills Shire Council rejected its proposal and a subsequent review by the Sydney Central City Planning Panel also found it did not demonstrate strategic merit and should not be submitted for Gateway Determination,” the spokesman said.

The Showground masterplan was 837 dwellings over the maximum allowed dwellings.

“The planning proposal, if approved, would facilitate higher density residential development within the two key sites with a potential yield of 3,040 dwellings — 837 more dwellings than what can be achieved under existing planning controls.

“The maximum building height would also rise from 12 to 18 storeys.”

THE BATTLE OVER SHOWGROUND

Mirvac axes plans for residential community in Showground precinct

Residents in uproar over ‘three year wait for Showground precinct plans’

NSW Planning hits out at Hills Shire Council over Showground Precinct Plan

Chapman Ave development proposal to go before planning panel

Castle Hill Showground Station precinct — why this is Sydney’s future

Commissioners Peter Duncan and Carol Austin objected to the proposal in advice handed down last week.

“There has been no change in circumstances that would warrant further amendments to the recently amended planning controls under the Showground Station Precinct,” the commissioners said in a joint statement to the NSW Government.

“Further amendments to the recently amended planning controls without any change in circumstance would undermine the integrity of the strategic planning process.

“The planning proposal does not provide sufficient strategic merit to support a contrary

decision to that made by the Planning Panel, and the planning proposal has the potential to disadvantage other land owners in the precinct who have lodged development applications with council.”