But the planning debacle left in its wake has made Cherrybrook residents resentful of the project and the State Government.

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A band of residents in the Cherrybrook priority precinct are calling for the NSW Planning Department to release finalised plans for the rezoned region, identified by the government in 2013 as a growth area.

Spokesman for the group of residents, Peter Townend, said there were concerns about a lack of transparency.

“We have been waiting for almost six years for some clarity around the future of our homes,” Mr Townend said. “The planning department did do some initial consultation in 2013, but … there has been very little since.

“We have had no real detail about the future of the project.”

Mr Townend said residents were told on several occasions last year that finalised plans were “imminent”. However 12 months later, they remain in the dark.

“What makes us nervous is the precedent that was set with the Showground precinct,” Mr Townend said.

“There is an ongoing tug of war and years of limbo that have arisen from that and we don’t want another white elephant on the Sydney Metro line in Cherrybrook.”

Several homeowners have already sold up from within the precinct, deterred by the lack of information provided by the government.

“There is an odour in the air that smells like the Showground precinct,” Mr Townend said.

Residents of the Showground precinct at Castle Hill were locked in limbo for almost three years from 2014 as the planning department worked to finalise its plans.

The rally cry from residents was echoed by The Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne.

She said she encouraged the State Government to finalise the masterplans as soon as possible to support future growth.

Epping state Liberal MP Damien Tudehope said he was in regular contact with the NSW Planning Department about the issue.

“The reason we haven’t seen a plan for the government site yet is because they want to take the time to get it right and present a really good design for public consultation,” he said.

A planning department spokesman said it was working with councils and the community to determine the future rezoning of government land around the Cherrybrook Metro station.

READ MORE: Council rejects Cherrybrook Village precinct plans

“The success of planning for Cherrybrook’s future relies on sound technical information and collaboration — with councils, communities and other stakeholders — and this process takes time,” he said.