Hills and Hornsby councils battle to save rural fringe from seniors housing
HILLS and Hornsby Councils are willing to join forces in the fight against ‘development by stealth’ in the rural suburb of Dural, with five multimillion-dollar seniors housing proposals submitted to NSW Planning in the past two years.
Hills Shire
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DEVELOPERS have found the ‘holy grail’ of the housing monopoly in Dural — while residents fight to protect it.
Hills and Hornsby Councils are willing to join forces in the fight against ‘development by stealth’ in the rural suburb of Dural, as the Hills Shire Times can reveal five separate multimillion-dollar seniors housing proposals have been submitted to NSW Planning in the past two years.
Hills mayor Michelle Byrne said she was not convinced that rural areas such as Dural were the best locations for seniors housing.
“Everyone knows that we have an ageing population and that seniors need somewhere to live, however, it is about finding the appropriate locations where there is amenities in place, where they have access to medical access, public transport and community facilities as well,” Cr Byrne said.
“We want to have very defined urban and rural areas, and these developments would see urban sprawl in areas we want to protect.
“Hornsby and Hills have pressure to develop Dural, but the infrastructure will not allow it.”
Hornsby mayor Philip Ruddock said council was determined to preserve the unique character of their rural areas.
“We support the need for more aged care facilities, but site compatibility certificates are not the best way to achieve this,” he said.
“Site compatibility certificates have become a back door for developers to blanket our rural area with urban sprawl, under the guise of aged care facilities.”
Cr Ruddock said Hills and Hornsby councils were already working together to encourage the government to develop a strategic plan and vision for rural areas.
“One positive point, however, was that the government’s Planning Panel recently supported Council’s recommendation to refuse a DA where a site suitability certificate had been issued,” he said.
The Hills and Hornsby have called for a meeting with Planning Minister Anthony Roberts, however, neither have heard back from the minister’s office.
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