Cherrybrook station development: Hills Shire councillor Mila Kasby has housing affordability concerns

Grand plans for an ambitious 20-year transformation of Cherrybrook station have been supported by The Hills Council however, one councillor has fears about housing affordability in the area.

Ambitious plans for a mammoth transformation of Cherrybrook have been endorsed by Hills Shire Council, however some councillors are sounding the alarm over housing affordability.

Two state government proposals have unveiled a 20-year vision to deliver up to 3200 new homes and a revamped town centre around Cherrybrook station, with the plans supported by councillors at a recent council meeting.

Under the plans, a 7.7ha site surrounding Cherrybrook Metro Station would be rezoned to allow for five-storey buildings accommodating 390 new homes, as well as 3200 sqm of retail space and 1300 sqm dedicated for community facilities. The area surrounding the Sydney Metro-owned site would also be rezoned.

At a recent council meeting, Greens councillor Mila Kasby and Labor’s Barbara Burton raised concerns about the levels of affordable housing in the increasingly expensive suburbs of northwest Sydney.

Both councillors called for the future development to encompass 10 per cent of affordable housing.

What it could look like … artist impression of the Cherrybrook Station precinct.

Artist impression of Cherrybrook Station Precinct.

Addressing the council, Cr Kasby said she was “broadly supportive” of the draft precinct plan but warned of “a housing affordability crisis”.

“I and most of the community I have spoken with are broadly supportive of this draft precinct plan,” she said. “The vision being a five-storey, low rise, walkable centre that supports the need of the community with open space, retail and a library.”

Greens councillor Mila Kasby advocated for more affordable housing in the precinct.

“(But) we need more affordable housing: this is housing for our key workers — our teachers, our police, nurses, emergency service workers, aged care and child care workers.”

Cr Kasby told the council the affordable housing issue was becoming more urgent as The Hills area experiences a sharp spike in the cost of buying or renting homes.

“Many of us have children that won’t be able to live near us unless something changes and if it doesn’t change we will struggle to get essential workers in our schools, our hospitals, our aged care homes … we need these people in our community,” she said.

“We want these wonderful people living in our community. We want them to be able to live close to their work … and as you all know we are in a housing affordability crisis, this is affecting the economy, the efficiency of businesses and the availability of businesses.”

However just three councillors, including Liberal councillor Rosemarie Boneham, voted to require ten per cent of all new dwellings be provided as affordable housing.

Cr Kasby was the sole dissenting vote on council’s submission to the state government on the Cherrybrook station plans.