NSW Planning hits out at Hills Shire Council over Showground precinct plan stall
THE blame game is in full swing in Sydney’s Hills district as accusations fly over who is responsible for the stalling of Showground Station Precinct plans. Who do you support? Take our poll.
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ACCUSATIONS over who is to blame for the stalling of Showground Station Precinct plans has tensions rising across the Hills District — as NSW Planning and residents point the finger at the council.
This week, the Hills Shire Times revealed that residents had met to call on the NSW Planning Department to release finalised plans for the precinct.
The NSW Planning Department blamed The Hills Shire Council’s objection of the draft rezoning plan for the hold up of the finalised report, claiming council “considered the potential housing forecast would not be adequately serviced by jobs, infrastructure, public amenities and recreation space”.
However, The Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne hit back at the Planning Department’s claims, highlighting the plan’s complexities and the decision process was under the government’s control.
“Given the size and detail of this new material, including a number of significant new issues raised by council, such as minimum lot sizes, modified floor space ratios and proposed legislative changes, the department has subsequently undertaken a detailed review of these matters,” a Planning Department spokesman said.
Draft precinct plans for the Showground Station Precinct were released by the NSW Government for public comment from December 2015 until February 2016, with 300 submissions being made in relation to the Showground Station Precinct.
The NSW Planning spokesman said council remained “formally at odds with the NSW Government” about matters including housing diversity and affordability.
The spokesman said the council made a request to amend the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act to mandate council’s specific master planning objectives which “unnecessarily delay the delivery of new homes”.
“(Council also requested) bonus height or density to be provided for lots with a minimum size of one-hectare, when this is not a requirement for any other development,” the spokesman told the Times.
“The department has continued to work closely with council and meet with local MPs to finalise the rezoning plans for the three precincts and at no stage has sought to hold up the process but rather has dedicated numerous resources to address issues as they are raised by the council.”
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Residents Matter Action Group spokesman Paul Cook said more than 300 submissions were made to a petition to the NSW Government this week, urging Planning Minister Anthony Roberts to release finalised plans.
“There was overwhelming support for the Planning Department at Monday night’s meeting,” Mr Cook said.
“The question, is if the council isn’t acting on behalf of residents then how will they put forward a proposal that residents support?”
Cr Byrne said the precinct was home to 500 dwellings with about 1600 people, and would expand rapidly to accommodate more than 8500 dwellings for 17,000 residents.
“While council has been proactive in working with the Planning Department, decisions about the future of the Showground Precinct are ultimately up to the Department and the Planning Minister,” Cr Byrne said.
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“We do understand land owners are looking for certainty. However, as a council, we are entrusted with planning a sustainable community beyond just the immediate needs of existing residents — and we have some concerns for this precinct.
“Retro-fitting a low density urban footprint to accommodate this many future residents is not easy and difficult decisions have to be made.”
Cr Byrne said the council understood that population growth was imminent, which required more housing, high density and increased housing targets.
“But we also understand that residents who live here in the future will have to live with decisions made now about height and density,” she said.
“Currently the numbers being planned for are not being accompanied by the infrastructure needed to support them. Our concerns centre around including appropriate road networks, open space, sporting grounds and community facilities, as well as ensuring both existing and new residents have adequate access to health services and schools — preferably within the walkable catchment of the precinct without the need to cross busy roads.”
Cr Byrne said demographic data from the Planning Department highlighted the significance ‘family households’ will have on the precinct.
“We want as many opportunities as we can for families to be able to choose to live in these future precincts,” Cr Byrne said. “They can’t do that if the product is not right.
“We are asking the State Government to pause for just a moment and consider the actual densities our population increase will need, while maintaining the quality of life that people who currently live here treasure.”
Cr Byrne said the council is “doing the job we have been put here to do — and we will work hard to ensure this precinct delivers family-friendly homes, quality jobs close to home and a desirable living environment”.
“I can assure all of our residents that the work done by council has simply been to assist the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to address these concerns. And we have done this at the request of the State Government and various Planning Ministers over this time,” she said.
“The Department’s planning process is complex, involving different and sometimes competing requirements. After their final plans for this precinct are unveiled, we are all looking at up to a 20-year horizon for the renewal process to take place. We won’t see any overnight solutions and it will be difficult to determine how the rate of development will proceed.”
