Castle Hill police station may be relocated for Castle Towers redevelopment

NSW Police want to relocate Castle Hill police station, and they want Castle Towers owners QIC to help foot the bill.

Castle Hill police station may be forced to move if the Castle Towers redevelopment is approved.

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NSW Police want to relocate Castle Hill police station, and they want Castle Towers owners QIC to help foot the bill.

Police have called on the developers crafting the $911 million proposal to factor in access to and from the Castle St station but admitted, ultimately, the best solution may be to move.

In a report to the Joint Regional Planning Panel, police said the layout of the proposed Castle Towers could restrict police from responding to emergencies promptly as part of Castle St will be sealed off.

“Police have raised concerns that the proposed works will impact upon police ability to attend incidents in a timely manner due to the increased traffic in the area and an already overloaded road network,” the report said.

“Police have also noted that the closure of Castle St will reduce the number of routes available for police when responding to urgent jobs.

Police raised concerns that by sealing off Castle St, it will reduce the number of routes they can take to respond to emergencies.

“It may be appropriate to consider the relocation of Castle Hill Police Station due to the negative impact this will have on the ability of police to perform to peak operational capacity.

“Should such relocation be likely, it would be desirable that QIC contribute to the costs associated with the relocation.

“It is envisaged that a customer-facing facility for police in, or adjacent to Castle Towers, would be mutually beneficial.”

Police suggested the Castle St station could be used to ease traffic concerns when the roads are reconfigured with the redevelopment.

The block of land the Castle Hill police station stands on is zoned for apartments up to 12 storeys high.

Police also want QIC to help head off potential crime around the centre, particularly the former Castle Hill Public School “Heritage Square” site.

Supt Rob Critchlow is the commander at the Castle Hill police station.

Although it was believed the crime risk was “low” at Castle Towers, police advised retailers to bolt down tables and chairs in the Heritage Square to prevent thefts.

Police also suggested fencing, security guards, CCTV cameras and lighting to deter vandals from damaging or leaving graffiti on the heritage buildings.

Police also requested to have meetings with new businesses moving into the shopping centre to discuss ways to reduce shoplifting and other crimes at their stores.

The JRPP deferred the decision, on whether to allow the proposal, until it had consulted with the NSW Department of Planning’s Greater Sydney Commission.

If approved, the 238,575sq m site will have 193,457sq m of retail and commercial space and a 7996 parking spaces, including at least 209 disabled spots.

SKY-HIGH HITCH OVER TOWERS

An artist impression of the Castle Towers redevelopment.

THE Castle Towers redevelopment remains in limbo for at least two more weeks.

The updated proposal was brought before the Joint Regional Planning Panel on Thursday with the height of the planned complex a hot topic for discussion.

Under The Hills Shire Local Environmental Plan, the area must conform to a 12m height limit. The proposed works outlined a maximum height of 35.47m at the new Gold Class cinema complex, nicknamed the Sky Lounge; a 195.6 per cent variation to the LEP limit.

Despite the insistence of The Hills Shire Council that the applicant’s, QIC Global Real Estate, previous proposals had been approved and the development would attract economic and social benefits, the JRPP deferred the matter so it could confer with the NSW Department of Planning’s Greater Sydney Commission.

The proposal also has plans for the former Castle Hill Primary School that will be factored in to a “Heritage Square”.

QIC Global Real Estate managing director Steven Leigh said: “The decision by the JRPP to seek clarification from the Department is a procedural one, and we will continue to work with council and the JRPP throughout the ongoing assessment process for the redevelopment of Castle Towers.

“It remains our position that the proposed development for which we are seeking approval is consistent with the relevant state planning strategies and prior development consents issued by the council and the JRPP.”

It was the latest of several expansion development applications lodged for the Old Castle Hill Rd shopping complex with another in 2011 and 2014.

This proposal will supersede these previous applications and aims to consolidate its trading within the existing shopping centre area to be closer to the Sydney Metro Northwest rail link.