Aqualand submit application for 40 townhouses at St Joseph’s convent site in Baulkham Hills

Developers behind a controversial proposal to build an entire new community in Baulkham Hills have submitted a new application for dozens of townhouses.

Developer Aqualand has submitted an application for 40 townhouses at the St Joseph's convent site in Baulkham Hills.

• Council raise inconsistencies in St Joseph’s Baulkham Hills proposal
• Overseas developer buys 12.5ha convent site at Baulkham Hills
• Baulkham Hills St Joseph’s redevelopment approved

Developers behind a controversial proposal to build an entire new community at the St Joseph’s convent site at Baulkham Hills have submitted a new application for dozens of townhouses.

Aqualand submitted the application for 40 townhouses as part of a multi-dwelling housing development across three separate stages at 64 Barina Downs Rd, Norwest, to Hills Shire Council last week.

“This Development Application seeks to provide high quality and attractive multi-dwelling housing for the local area,” Aqualand's application said.

However, the development application exceeds the maximum level of medium-density dwellings for the site — which was approved for 34 homes.

Developer Aqualand has submitted an application for 40 townhouses at the St Joseph's convent site in Baulkham Hills.

“The outcome of this proposed development is to provide compact housing, and increased

housing choice in an area that is dominated by low density large lot detached homes, yet is in proximity to the upcoming Norwest Station, set to open in early 2019, where future residents will be serviced by the Sydney Metro Northwest.”

The application comes after the company revealed a finalised masterplanned proposal for the 12.5ha site, which earmarked a range of low and medium-density developments, in October this year, as exclusively revealed by Hills Shire Times.

Am Aqualand spokeswoman said the developer lodged an application for a mix of “free standing homes, small lot homes and attached townhouses on the site”.

“Aqualand displayed the street elevation at a recent consultation day and the feedback was positive from the community,” she said.

“The design will provide for extensive landscaping allow Barina Downs Road as well as elevations that are contemporary yet compatible with the surrounding areas.

“This DA will begin to create the Bellevue lifestyle with a vibrant mix of housing options, open spaces, through site links and extensive landscaping in creating this new community whilst integrating with the existing.”

The planning proposal, which Hills Shire councillors argued included several inconsistencies around building height and heritage items, featured a $51 million concept masterplan for the site, proposing dozens of medium density townhouses and apartments with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedrooms across eight residential flat buildings.

Artist impressions of the Aqualand Bellevue development at the St Joseph's site in Baulkham Hills.

Stage one of the masterplanned community, dubbed Bellevue Residences, will feature 14 lots with a starting price of $1.1 million.

Aqualand and Hills Shire Council had been at loggerheads over plans for the St Joseph’s convent since 2012, however, earlier this year the NSW Government’s Joint Regional Planning Panel stepped in to approved a finalised proposal.

Hills Shire councillor Mike Thomas said the JRPP decision meant that current residents have been forgotten about.

“This leaves the people on Barina Downs Rd and Norwest Blvd in a space of limbo,” Cr Thomas said. “This devleopment is adding more density to an area that is already struggling to cope.

“When you take planning powers away from council you get decisions from state planners that are not up to the job.”

The development application was submitted alongside another plan, which proposed the subdivision of four lots for housing along MacKillop Dr, Baulkham Hills.