Homes, jobs and schools boom for Hills Shire following reveal of Showground plans
A TOTAL of 5000 homes, a bustling town centre with shops, cafes and the creation of 2300 jobs — these are the key features of a plan Showground residents have waited three years for the State Government to release.
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A TOTAL of 5000 homes, a bustling town centre with shops, cafes and the creation of 2300 jobs — these are the key features of a plan Showground residents have waited three years for the State Government to release.
Planning Minister Anthony Roberts revealed the finalised plans for the precinct, alongside the Showground train station, will include terrace-style dwellings and apartments to be built over the next 20 years.
Samuel Gilbert Public School and Excelsior Public School are earmarked for upgrades alongside the recently announced primary school for Fairway Drive, Bella Vista.
The finalised plan comes just weeks after the release of Bella Vista and Kellyville station precincts.
“We are creating vibrant communities with a variety of housing choice and green open space around this key transport hub,” Mr Roberts said.
“This community will be transformed into a dynamic area with a new town centre, community facilities, new parks and recreation zones on the doorstep of the Sydney Metro Northwest.”
Mr Roberts said residents and The Hills Shire Council please for incentives for larger apartments, ensuring specific development control plans and infrastructure were addressed in the finalised report.
Mr Roberts said an extra 1.8ha of private-owned land along Cattai Creek would also be rezoned as public open space, while Chapman Avenue Reserve would be expanded and enhanced.
He said the $20 billion Sydney Metro would transform Sydney and allow residents to have easier access to jobs.
How Bella Vista could look in 2037
How Cherrybrook could look in 2037
How Castle Hill could look in 2037
How Castle Hill Showground could look in 2037
“It will offer greater opportunities for people to live closer to jobs and services and connect more people to destinations faster than ever before,’’ he said.
“With the Sydney Metro Northwest set to open in 2019 this will give existing and future residents of the Hills greater access to jobs closer to home, with direct links to Norwest Business Park and Macquarie Park.”
Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne welcomed the decision from the government.
“We are thankful that the State Government and the Department of Planning have taken time to consider all stakeholders during this important process,” Cr Byrne said.
“I am glad the Department has acknowledged that their original plans for unit floor space ratios were not sustainable and have capped it to 5000 new homes until the right infrastructure is put in place.
“I am also happy to see the plans include an appropriate mix and size of apartments, which allows families right down to single income earners, the opportunity to live within the Precinct. This policy does great things for housing affordability, diversity and community vibrancy. This model should be rolled out across the state. It will increase housing diversity and make for more liveable high-density housing precincts in the future.”
Cr Byrne said there was a “very long journey ahead” with delivery of the project to roll out over the next 20-30 years.
“During this time, Council in partnership with the State Government will work hard to deliver the goals and aspirations of this Precinct Plan,” she said.
“To make sure this ultimately works, we need to ensure that any development that is delivered is authentic to the Plan and wins over the wider community by demonstrating how it contributes positively to the Shire as a whole and how it improves access for the community to the metro, businesses and creates other opportunities within this area.”
Castle Hill state Liberal MP Ray Williams said the creation of better connected open space was a major benefit for the community.
“Residents will benefit from extra open space and greater access to the beautiful natural areas adjoining Cattai Creek and new parks,” Mr Williams said.
Showground Residents Matter Action Group Spokesman Paul Cook said most residents were relieved the plans had been revealed.
‘Residents have been waiting for more than 2 ½ years for this to be finalised and the majority or residents are happy,” he said.
“We recognise that not all residents are going to agree with the Planning Department’s outcome, we know that we are not going to get everything we want but at least now with Mr Roberts, we feel like we are being heard and that changes have occurred to ensure a masterplanned precinct provides certainty for residents.”
Mr Cook commended the NSW Planning Department for the outcome of the finalised report.
“We are now calling for the Hills Shire Council to appoint an independent Hearing and Assessment Panel to take the politics and favouritism, when it comes to developers, out of planning and introduce transparency,” Mr Cook said. “Residents are not collateral damage.”
About the plans
The Showground Station Precinct, along with the Bella Vista and Kellyville station precincts, were announced as Priority Precincts by the NSW Government in August 2014. That followed The Hills Shire Council’s unanimous decision to nominate those precincts.
The Showground Station Precinct is one of eight station precincts along the Sydney Metro Northwest corridor.
How Norwest Business Park could look in 2037
How Kellyville could look in 2037
How Baulkham Hills could look in 2037
The finalised report said the number of dwellings for the new precinct would be capped.
“Landowners on lots of at least 3600sq m will also be required to prepare a site specific development control plan to ensure key masterplanning principles are applied at the development application stage,” the report said.
“The department will continue to work with The Hills Shire Council and State agencies to plan for and co-ordinate the delivery of the infrastructure required to support the precincts’ growth.
“Council will also have access to up to $15 million of Precinct Support Scheme funding to be shared across the Showground, Bella Vista and Kellyville station precincts to enhance the amenity of the area.
“This funding will be used to accelerate the delivery of local infrastructure improvements for the three precincts.”
Key changes to the plans
• A new provision has been introduced that ensures that no more than 5000 new dwellings can be delivered in the precinct.
• Part of the land that was to be rezoned B2 local centre on the northern side of Carrington Rd will be rezoned R1 general residential.
• Changes to floor space ratio controls within the R4 high density residential area to reinforce the requirement for a transition in building heights and densities throughout the precinct, and to more closely align the corresponding building height control.
• Change to the location and size of the planned expansion of Chapman Avenue Reserve.
• Introduction of a bonus floor space ratio clause to allow for council’s larger apartment size and mix to be provided where certain requirements are met
• New local planning control provisions, including for the calculation of floor space ratio and site area, and establishing minimum front setback requirements, and active street frontages in key locations.
• Changes to minimum allotment sizes including a minimum allotments size of 1800sq m for apartments 11m in height or less, and 3600sq m for all other apartment buildings;
• The introduction of a design excellence clause for all buildings in the precinct, to ensure a high standard of architecture and urban design is achieved; and
• The change to the DCP control for the precinct, to require all sites of at least 3600sq m to prepare a site specific DCP;
• Land directly to the west of Cattai Creek to be key-holed out of the precinct, with the rezoning of this area to be deferred for an urban design and landscape masterplan exercise to be completed and further public consultation to be undertaken to determine the appropriate mix of land uses and development controls.