Kellyville: New plans lodged for 53 homes on Cattai Creek bushland
A controversial proposal to transform more than 5ha of dense bushland into 53 homes in Kellyville has outraged residents, who say the site should be protected for the threatened species that call it home.
Hills Shire
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hills Shire. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Hills residents receive Queen’s birthday honours
- Panic ordering GPs leave NSW suburbs without flu shots
A controversial proposal to transform more than 5ha of dense bushland into 53 homes in Kellyville has been reincarnated after four previous bids to develop the area failed.
The plans, lodged with Hills Shire Council have caused outrage from residents deeply concerned about the environmental implications.
The development falls between Glenhaven and Kellyville in an area known as Cattai Creek bushland.
The developer, Graham Trilby Pty Limited is owned by Lyon Group Australia, who have submitted ambitious plans to redevelop that area of bushland four times — 1998, 2001, 2014 and 2019.
Those plans were all were rejected on the grounds of substantial ecological impact and threat to endangered species.
Daryl-Anne and Steve Le Roux live near the site.
“It is one thing to subdivide existing properties but existing native bush land is being lost forever,” Mrs Le Roux said.
“We understand the necessity for growth but sadly, we have observed prolific land clearing to make way for multitudes of new residential areas.”
“We have also experienced the inconvenience and increased load on the infrastructure that in the past two years has changed the dynamic of the suburb.”
Mrs Le Roux’s daughter Jennavive described the plans as “upsetting” and devastating”.
“All the residents in this area love nature and have objected to this area being developed four times already,” she said.
Another Kellyville resident Tim Orpen said he was concerned about the long-term impact on one of the last remaining substantial pockets of Red-blood woodland in northwest Sydney which is home to variety of fauna and flora species.
“It contains no less than eight federally protected species, including the critically endangered and extremely rare Cattai Eucalypt tree,” he said.
The developer Graham Trilby has been contacted for this article for comment.
A statement of the environmental effects submitted with the application described the overall environmental benefit to the area as “positive”.
“The benefit will comprise an improved natural environment through the proposed biodiversity stewardship agreement on the residue lot,” it said.
Hills councillor Dr Peter Gangemi described the reduction in the number of proposed residential lots from 71 to 53 in the new DA for the site as “welcome”.
“Nevertheless, the site is very important to local residents and any future use should minimise potential impacts on flora and fauna, Cattai Creek and bushfire risk as much as possible,” he said.