Councillors withdraw plan to revive Mirvac’s bid for hundreds of homes at West Pennant Hills
Three Sydney councillors have backflipped on a plan to give a major Mirvac development at the West Pennant Hills IBM site another chance.
Hills Shire
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- Hills Shire Council decides fate of IBM site development
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A bid to breathe new life into a rejected plan for hundreds of homes on the IBM site at West Pennant Hills appears to be dead in the water.
Three Hills Shire councillors worked to revive the controversial proposal — which neighbours an endangered forest — which was knocked back at Tuesday night’s meeting.
However, they backflipped on the idea hours later.
Hills Shire Liberal councillors Samuel Uno, Alan Haselden and Frank De Masi submitted a rescission motion on Wednesday evening in an attempt to reverse a council vote to reject Mirvac’s plans for 600 homes to be built at the former IBM site in West Pennant Hills — despite an overwhelming 4000 objections from the community.
The controversial planning proposal has been before The Hills Shire Council for several years.
Community groups have launched countless campaigns — resulting in overwhelming objections — in an effort to protect the surrounding Cumberland State Forest.
They have also raised concerns about the Sydney Turpentine and Ironbark forests – which are considered endangered ecological communities.
The site is also a breeding ground for the critically endangered Powerful Owl with the Energy, Environment and Science Department issuing concerns that the proposed development could result in the destruction of the species habitat.
On Thursday morning, Cr Uno confirmed he submitted a rescission motion to overturn council’s decision, declaring the proposal was “the best option available for the site” and Tuesday’s vote was “inconclusive”.
However, hours later, Cr Uno revealed he and his supporters had withdrawn the rescission motion as backlash from the West Pennant Hills community grew.
“We have decided that we will be withdrawing the rescission motion after determining that it is in the best interest of the community,” he told the Times. “We saw the feedback from the community and this is the best outcome for the community on this issue.”
Cr Haselden said the council’s recommendation for approval was “the best option available for the site”.
“People have lost site of the other significant developments in the area, which would dwarf the plans for the IBM site,” he said.
While Cr De Masi raised concerns for the future of the site.
“All I can say is that I honestly believed the community was going to get a good deal out of this proposal — it would have been a win,” he said.
On Wednesday morning Hills Mayor Michelle Byrne worked to steady the rocking boat, calling on the councillors to “reconsider their decision”.
“There is no guarantee a rescission motion would be successful and if it’s not successful there will be even more anger,” Cr Byrne told the Times.
“It is also not fair to put the community through another two weeks of this.
“They have had enough.”
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On Tuesday night hundreds of concerned residents gathered in the Hills Shire Council chambers to witness the nailbiting decision play out, with mayor Michelle Byrne forced to use a casting vote to slap down the multimillion-dollar development application from being approved after the room was divided over the proposal.
Property developer Mirvac is proposing a total of 200 townhouses and 400 apartments to replace the purpose-built IBM site at 55 Coonara Ave.
“The plan is contained wholly within the footprint of the existing established development,
keeping intact and protecting the remnant forest and the important bushland character,” a Mirvac spokeswoman said.
“The proposed masterplan allows for a mix of up to 200 houses and 400 apartments, extensive open space and community facilities.
“The plan is contained wholly within the footprint of the existing established development, keeping intact and protecting the remnant forest and the important bushland character.”
Protect Your Suburban Environment spokeswoman, Jan Primrose said community groups were “appalled” in the decision of council.
“They should listen to their constituents,” she said. “People are outraged the refusal is being challenged — The eyes of Sydney are on these three councillors.”