Developer calls for Commission to consider $3b Showground masterplan
EXCLUSIVE: Developers behind a $3 billion residential masterplan for the Castle Hill Showground precinct have lodged an appeal with the NSW Planning Department after it was knocked back by the Hills Shire Council.
Hills Shire
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DEVELOPERS behind a $3 billion residential masterplan for the Castle Hill Showground precinct have lodged an appeal with the NSW Planning Department.
The appeal to allow the Showground Corporation to present the proposal to a Greater Sydney Commission panel, comes after the Hills Shire Council knocked back the planning proposal for a masterplanned residential community on May 1.
Project director Joe Chiha revealed exclusively with the Hills Shire Times the project was not dead and said he was hopeful the panel would “see huge merit” in the proposal.
“We worked with Hills Council planners for three years to produce this proposal,” Mr Chiha told the Times.
“It ticks every box with community amenities, open space, public infrastructure and connectivity, housing for new home buyers and key workers, world-class design
and much more.
“It was disappointing that councillors still rejected the proposal, but not surprising.”
But Mr Chiha said the precinct’s future, which would see upgrades to local infrastructure including the expansion of local roads, pedestrian connections and 50,000sq m of open space, was in the hands of the independent panel.
“We are setting a precedence, no other developer can deliver the $150 million worth of infrastructure that we are providing and the State Government should support this,” he said.
The bid to the Greater Sydney Commission also comes as NSW Government developer Landcom calls for a private developer to deliver a new city centre at the Showground station.
Landcom chief executive officer John Brogden said Transport for NSW was seeking a developer to deliver a mixed-use “superlot” development next to the Castle Hill Showground station.
“The broader project will see potential for more than 1,600 dwellings and 10,000sq m of retail, commercial, and spaces for community use right next to the new Hills Showground Station,” Mr Brogden said.
“The mixed use development will feature a range of housing types that meet the needs of different households and will demonstrate a commitment to best practice transit-oriented development.”
Landcom has also proposed an affordable housing component in the precinct to “bring much needed housing for low to medium income workers”.
Residents Matter Action Group representative Paul Cook presented the Landcom expression of interest to Planning Minister Anthony Roberts last week.
“Mr Roberts appeared unaware that council had turned down every development that was an aside from council land,” Mr Cook said. “We raised several issues surrounding planning with the Hills Shire Council.”
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Mr Cook said every private residential development has been knocked back, while development on council or crown land through Landcom continue to be approved.
“We feel that the government and the council are working for themselves, approving development on their own land,” he said.