Forest in Danger raise fresh concerns over Mirvac’s Coonara Ave development on West Pennant Hills IBM site

Mirvac has defended plans for a major redevelopment in Sydney’s northwest as community groups accuse the property developer of ‘greenwashing’.

Tensions are heating up once again over the controversial development of the old IBM site at West Pennant Hills, with members of the community accusing property developer Mirvac of “greenwashing” by failing to establish when 10ha of forest will be handed over to the NSW Government.

In January, the first set of plans for Mirvac’s transformation of the 26-hectare IBM site into a residential community were released, prompting backlash from members of the local community and politicians.

Under their bold vision, Mirvac plans to build 418 apartments and houses, as well as community facilities and parklands, next to the protected Cumberland State Forest.

As part of the development proposal, Mirvac has promised to dedicate approximately 10ha of Blue Gum High Forest and Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest to the NSW Government.

But Jan Primrose, the spokeswoman for Forest in Danger, said the community has lost trust in Mirvac and their promise to dedicate the endangered forest to the state government.

The site’s “sparse” tree frontage prompted concerns before demolition began in full. Picture: Jan Primrose

Jan Primrose, the spokeswoman for Forest in Danger, says the community has lost trust in Mirvac’s promises of environmental protection.

“Mirvac has been promising to dedicate part of its land to the NSW Government since March 2018,” Ms Primrose said.

“Four and a half years later and Mirvac has still not dedicated the land.”

A Mirvac spokeswoman in a statement said the company remain committed to dedicating the 10ha of forest to the state government.

What it could look like … artist impression of Mirvac’s proposed development at 55 Coonara Ave.

Mirvac 55 Coonara Avenue. Old IBM building and near Cumberland State Forest. Image from Mirvac presentation.

“We are continuing to work with the state government on finalising this hand over,” the spokeswoman said.

“This forest will become publicly accessible for the first time in 100 years, as it has previously been private land with no public access.”

A spokesman from the NSW Forestry Corporation, which is liaising with Mirvac over the land, confirmed no set timeline for the transfer has been finalised.

“It is still early in this process, and arrangements and timelines are still being developed. Mirvac are responsible for managing this land until any transfer takes place,” he said.

While this transfer takes place, Mirvac said “the health and wellbeing of the forest is of the utmost importance”.

“Mirvac will be undertaking a wide range of initiatives to protect, restore and enhance the forest environment … (while) management of the land currently sits with Mirvac,” the Mirvac spokeswoman said.

In February, a “Vigil For Our Forest” was held in a last-ditch protest against the planned development.

Hills Shire Labor Cr Ryan Tracey speaking at the Vigil For Our Forest.

But Forest in Danger are sceptical about the dedication to protect the forest — one of their Facebook posts noted Mirvac gained approval to bulldoze 1253 trees and has since lodged development applications for the removal of 1877 more trees.

“This is the picture that Mirvac didn’t want anyone to see,” the Facebook post stated. “Where once there were over 1200 towering mature trees, thousands of smaller trees and shrubs and a beautiful oasis that supported dozens of native wildlife species, now it’s a desolate scarred wasteland.”

“And that’s not the end of it. Over 1800 more mature trees, including critically endangered forest, are still to be recommended by Hills Shire Council for approval.”

Ms Primrose has also raised concerns over the potential neglect of the forest while it remains in a transition period.

“Given that the construction is estimated to take five years, that will be almost ten years from the date of Mirvac‘s offer,” Ms Primrose said.

“By that time the forest will be overgrown with weeds and the walkway and bridge infrastructures further degraded.”

“The community no longer believes Mirvac, we think it’s all just another greenwashing story.”