Backlash over Mirvac project fast-track for 600 homes in West Pennant Hills
There has been a furious community backlash to an announcement the State Government plans to revive Mirvac’s proposal for 600 residential homes on the former IBM site.
Hills Shire
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hills Shire. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The reaction has been swift from community groups deeply concerned by a State Government announcement that Mirvac’s proposal for 600 residential houses on the former IBM site in West Pennant Hills will have its planning assessment fast-tracked.
It joins 24 other projects as part of the Planning Assessment Acceleration Scheme designed to kickstart the economy after COVID-19 as part of the second tranche of the program.
Twenty-three out of 24 projects in the first tranche were approved with some fearful the state government has already given the Mirvac proposal a ‘rubber stamp’.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes on Friday described the 24 projects as “shovel-ready” and “priority projects”.
To be considered for fast-track a project had to have a DA or rezoning already in the system, deliver public benefit, demonstrate an ability to create jobs during construction and once given the approval be able to commence construction within 6 months.
But there is widespread opposition to the proposal in The Hills where in November 2019 it was knocked back by the council after a record 4000 objections by the community.
The IBM site on 55 Coonara Avenue in West Pennant Hills backs onto the Cumberland State Forest.
Protesters converged on the site on Friday to vent their anger.
Ray Sloss from the Residents’ Infrastructure and Planning Alliance said he felt “betrayed”.
“Since 2017 we have attended meetings, public consultation sessions, written submissions, got signatures on petitions and in short gone through all the processes that were expected of us,” he said.
“Finally — or so we thought- 26 November 2019 the Mirvac proposal was rejected by Hills Shire Council at a General Council Meeting — and the community thought that drew a line under it.
“Everyone has been concentrating on what could happen to the site since then. For this to be included in a list of ‘shovel ready projects’ flies in the face of community involvement and in democracy.
“The message we have received is we don’t care what you think - we’re just going to do it anyway.”
Another community member from Protecting Your Suburban Environment, Jan Primrose, asked “why such a socially and environmentally destructive development was even on the fast track list?".
"The Mirvac planning proposal does not meet the Priority Project Criteria for fast track assessment".
"It might create 300 jobs during construction but will have no post construction jobs, while it will destroy an employment precinct capable of carrying 2000 jobs into the future.”
Hills Mayor Michelle Byrne described the development as “inappropriate for the area” and said she was “disappointed” the State Government was considering the proposal.
“Residents are concerned with increased traffic demands on their busy road networks, the distance the development is from the new Cherrybrook train station, the destruction of the Blue Gum High Forest and Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest on the site, as well as increased pressure on schools and health services in the area,” Cr Byrne said,
Another Cr, Peter Gangemi, echoed the mayor’s concerns.
“The community and Council applied the handbrake to this proposal, yet the department pushed the accelerator and that is certainly disappointing. The community expect and deserve the proper planning process to be followed with this proposal,” he said.
"It might create 300 jobs during construction but will have no post construction jobs, while it will destroy an employment precinct capable of carrying 2000 jobs into the future".
Catherine Van Laeren from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in an email to concerned residents said the “fast-tracking of the planning system does not mean compromising due processes and appropriate assessment of the merits of proposals”.
“The Department is undertaking a full assessment of the proposal, including those issues raised by the community in submissions to The Hills Council.”
A determination on the Mirvac proposal will be made by June 18.
Mirvac was contacted for comment for this article.
Baulkham Hills MP David Elliott and Planning Minister Rob Stokes were both contacted for comment.