Defferal from medium density housing outraging Hills residents
A BID to freeze medium density housing development across the Hills has been left to the last minute and outraged residents, who claim the plea is not warranted.
Hills Shire
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A BID to freeze medium density housing development across the Hills has been left to the last minute and outraged residents, who claim the plea is not warranted.
On May 22, Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne announced a call to see the region’s suburbs deterred from the NSW Government’s low rise medium density housing code for complying development.
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The code, which will be rolled out across the state on July 6, would have meant manor housing would be permitted wherever residential flats are currently allowed.
However, Cr Byrne argued the type of medium density development would have resulted in increased infrastructure and density concerns in growth areas including North Kellyville and Box Hill.
“They will also apply to the newly gazetted Showground Station precinct, where a dwelling cap has been imposed due to infrastructure capacity issues,” she said.
“Allowing manor houses in these locations and other parts of the Shire will place further pressure on already strained infrastructure.”
One group that has fought back against the deferral include approximately 200 residents in the Showground precinct medium density zone, who told the Hills Shire Times council urged them to amalgamate their properties for sale to developers — resulting in three years of ‘financial strain and torture’.
“Council endorsed the masterplanning concept during the draft process and encouraged residents to amalgamate properties for sale, so we did what we were encouraged to do,” one resident, who did not wish to be named said.
“Several developers proposed masterplans for the site that met the council’s vision and even secured a new school and more parkland for the Showground, but council have consistently knocked back proposals.”
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More than 80 homes and 200 residents were included in the precinct sale, which would have seen a consistent plan for medium density housing across the entire precinct.
“This has been very disheartening,” the resident said.
“We have seen people die waiting for a decision to be handed down, and now the council’s deferral bid could mean the past three years of limbo could go on indefinitely.
“Developers now see the whole Showground area, and the council, as toxic and untouchable.”
Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliott said his position to freeze development across the Hills, until infrastructure projects are complete has not changed.
“I am delighted that Council and Planning department have acknowledged that these parameters are necessary to ensure that we do not lose the character of our neighbourhoods,” Mr Elliott said.
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A council spokeswoman said the Planning Department indicated council’s deferral from the commencement of the Code was supported by Planning Minister Anthony Roberts. “Discussions are still continuing with the Planning Department to confirm the deferral time frame and the next steps in the process,” she said.
It is uncertain how long the deferral will last, as Hills Shire Council has sought time to amend the Local Environmental Plan.