Castle Hill Showground to transform by 2037

THERE has not been much development around the Showground precinct at Castle Hill yet, but expect that to change very soon.

How the Castle Hill Showground precinct could look in 2037. Drone image courtesy of cinemairap.com.au

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THERE has not been much development around the Showground precinct at Castle Hill yet, but expect that to change very soon.

The precinct was made famous by a number of attempts by residents to form partnerships to combine their properties to sell as a single large lot to developers.

There are now 400 homes in the precinct. That is expected to top 4800 by 2037.

According to Invoke Property managing director Rick Allogia, who has been working with a number of sellers in the area, the imminent gazettal by the State Government of rezoning plans will be the trigger for development to begin.

“Approximately half a dozen group-related transacted sales have been completed in the Showground precinct and more can be expected in the coming months,” he said.

“I would not be surprised if development applications commence being lodged with council from mid-2017.

“I believe the Showground Station Precinct will be the fastest growing area, with hundreds of new apartments being completed from early-to mid-2019.”

Mr Alloggia said the big question for locals had been how big was too big when it came to banding together.

“Group or land sizes are best assessed on the basis of the potential building size or number of apartments that may be produced to meet buyer demand,” he said.

“There has been a strong buyer demand that supports large sites between $40 million and $80 million as this develops a critical apartment mass to drive good masterplanned outcomes and efficiencies.”

The Hills Shire Council’s strategic planning group manager Michael Edgar believes that the transformation could begin first with the industrial lots on the other side of Cattai Creek.

The land directly abutting the creek is slated for mixed- use development.

“These are big land parcels. They are relatively easy to pull apart,” he said.

“If we get that right, this could be a very exciting precinct and could come online before the areas around Middleton Ave.”

Mr Alloggia said there was evidence to suggest there was already momentum for development in that space.

“Recent short term building lease offerings in this area are signalling redevelopment may occur sooner than later,” he said.

Mr Edgar said that the council was already planning for that eventuality.

“We need to fix up the creek, orientate developments to it, improve the linkages to it from the Showground,” he said.

An artist impression of Castle Hill Showground. Courtesy: NSW Government

As for the rest of the Showgound proper, a masterplan for its enhancement is likely still some way off, with Mr Edgar saying an independent panel of experts would be commissioned to come up with a plan to create a sporting and recreation space that would serve the wider community.

The State Government, in its artists’ impressions, has envisioned a number of specialised indoor and outdoor sporting pavilions, walking and bike paths, playgrounds and gathering spaces.

An artist impression of the Castle Hill Showground precinct. Courtesy: NSW Government

“The Showground is an absolute opportunity waiting to happen,” Mr Edgar said. “It is a big space, it will have a train on its doorstep and land uses around it are dramatically changing. We can create a fantastic recreational sport space.”

An artist impression of the Castle Hill Showground precinct. Courtesy: NSW Government