The state government has exclusively revealed plans for the station precincts following an extensive consultation process over the past three years.

A $50 million upgrade for Memorial Ave at Kellyville has been secured, while plans for a registered club and relocation of the State Emergency Services from Baulkham Hills to Bella Vista or Kellyville could be in the pipeline.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said the vibrant communities would feature new town centres, parks and create more than 10,000 jobs for the northwest thanks to the rezoning of 100ha of land around Kellyville and Bella Vista stations.

The precincts will see the thousands of dwellings built over the next 20 years, including apartments and terrace-style homes.

“We need to balance the growth challenges Sydney is facing with the need for unlocking more housing supply,” Mr Roberts said.

“A variety of housing choices for people of all ages, close to transport and jobs and with access to adequate open space, is what this growing community requires.”

In 2013 The Hills Shire Council unanimously voted for Bella Vista, Kellyville and Showground to be nominated as priority precincts after the announcement of strategic masterplanning for the Sydney Metro northwest corridor in 2012.

HOW CASTLE HILL COULD LOOK IN 2037

HOW CASTLE HILL SHOWGROUND COULD LOOK IN 2037

HOW BELLA VISTA COULD LOOK IN 2037

NORTH WEST PRIORITY GROWTH AREA

Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliott told the Times that as well as the previously announced Bella Vista Primary School at Fairway Drive, and after “intense negotiations”, funding for a second school inside the precincts had been secured.

“I am confident we have been able to get as many concessions as we could into the final plans,” Mr Elliott said.

“I amalso cautiously optimistic about the 20-year time frame and I am delighted that I have been able to secure extra funding for infrastructure, which was not going to be the case in previous plans.

“We have secured an extra $50 million for Memorial Ave (Kellyville), extra green space and have been able to cap residential development.”

KELLYVILLE STATION PRECINCT TAKING SHAPE

Mr Elliott said he also secured extra funding for emergency services, which he plans to use to upgrade and relocate the Baulkham Hills State Emergency Services centre.

There will also be an entertainment drawcard.

“We are in preliminary discussions for a new registered club … in the area, to ensure all the new sporting facilities and clubs will be able to source sponsorship,” Mr Elliott said.

“I am still very cautious about all new development, but given that we have to accommodate affordable housing and the new railway — this is going to be as good as it gets for my electorate.”

HOW NORTHWEST BUSINESS PARK COULD LOOK IN 2037

HOW KELLYVILLE COULD LOOK IN 2037

An extra 10ha of open space will be provided as part of the rezoning.

A NSW Planning Department spokesman said funding was secured to deliver the proposed Rouse Hill Hospital.

MAYOR SUPPORTS PRECINCT PLANS

HILLS Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne has weighed in on the Station precinct plans for Bella Vista and Kellyville — supporting the final outcome after three years of consultation.

“We welcome the NSW Government’s commitment and vision, particularly their promise of additional open space,” Cr Byrne said.

“We are glad that the planning has now been completed that will determine where the new communities will be located, and what can be built within these new zones.

“This will provide certainty to everyone in The Hills about where density will ultimately be concentrated — it’s always been council’s vision to locate density around transport and town centres while preserving the overall character of the Shire.

“I now look forward to the much-awaited announcement of the zoning around Showground Station soon.”

Cr Byrne said funding provided in the finalised plans would enable The Hills Shire Council to provide infrastructure, such as improvements to walking and cycling paths and upgrades to roads and parks.

CALL FOR PARKS AND CAFES AT CHERRYBROOK STATION

APART from traffic and infrastructure, the natural environment and public open space are the top concerns for residents surrounding the Cherrybrook Station Precinct.

The NSW Planning Department has released findings of a series of community consultations for the precinct.

According to results, 100 per cent of people aged under 24 years, and 73 per cent of people aged 24-44, placed a high priority on connectivity to other neighbourhoods, employment and retail.

“When asked for ideas for improving Cherrybrook, the most common answers were for improved public transport,” the report read.

TIMELAPSE: CHERRYBROOK STATION COMES TO LIFE

It stated that 71 per cent of females placed a high value on access to cafes, shops, health and wellness services and other neighbourhood amenities, and 45 per cent of women placed particular value on being able to shop at locally owned businesses.

It went on to state that 76 per cent of men surveyed placed their highest value on the natural environment and half of all male respondents placed a priority on spaces for group or community activities and gatherings.

Hornsby Shire Deputy Mayor Vince Del Gallego said he was concerned that community consultation results did not reflect “true community values”.

“It appeared that a proportion of attendees lived within the precinct, some of whom had vested interests to sell to developers,” Cr Del Gallego said.

“A good proportion, considering there are tens of thousands of local residents within our surrounding suburbs detrimentally impacted by proposed medium/high rise developments.

“To reflect true community values, a much larger proportion of participants living outside the precinct must be invited to provide their insight.”

Cr Del Gallego said a presentation “enticing residents to an attractive Town Centre” did not cover residents’ major concerns of road congestion and infrastructure. Cr Del Gallego said question and answer panels with experts also did not occur.