Resident groups rally to save endangered forest at Old Northern Rd, Dural

RESIDENT groups have rallied in a last-ditch effort to save a critically endangered forest from being bulldozed for a housing development in Dural.

A planning proposal for Old Northenr Rd, Dural has outraged residents.

RESIDENT groups have rallied in a last-ditch effort to save a critically endangered forest from being bulldozed for a housing development in Dural.

Respect Rural representatives raised concerns with The Hills Shire Council and NSW Planning Department over the proposal, calling for the protection of the critically endangered bushland site at 582 Old Northern Rd, Dural.

The plans, which sought the rezoning of land from rural transitional zones to medium density residential, would include a future masterplanned development of 57 townhouses and is under consideration by NSW Planning.

Artist impressions of the planning proposal for Old Northern Rd, Dural.

“The proposal would result in the opportunity for medium density housing to be provided in proximity to services and facilities to support urban development on the land,” planning documents said.

Respect Rural’s John Inshaw said the area, which is now a timberyard, was a critically endangered forest.

“The proposal is only protecting a small amount of the site,” he said.

“There is a significant amount of trees around the site and those could all be protected with a 10 metre buffer zone, but nothing has been done to protect these trees.

“I don’t believe the developer is providing enough to contribute to local infrastructure — it is an insufficient amount and that should be addressed.”

The Hills Shire Council referred the proposal and a voluntary planning agreement to the NSW Planning Department for finalisation in May.

Council documents said it had been working through infrastructure concerns raised during public exhibition and that the draft voluntary planning agreement would secure monetary contributions for infrastructure.

57 subdivided lots were included in the proposal.

“It is important to note that while the subject planning proposal was considered to have sufficient strategic merit … development on the site is not required for residential development given the availability of zoned and serviced land elsewhere in the shire,” the documents said.

“There is enough land zoned for medium density residential development in more appropriate locations for additional housing that will meet the relevant State Government dwelling targets.”

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Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne said the council did not initially endorse this planning proposal, which included a rule change to permit this development.

“However, it was on a rezoning review that the then Sydney West Central Planning Panel, chaired by Edward Blakely, decided the proposal had strategic merit and that it should proceed,” she said.

“As a result of this decision, it was exhibited and processed in the normal way of a planning proposal. It has now been finalised.

“Council and the applicant are aware of the environmental constraints and any future applications will have to deal with this within the requirements of the site when a DA is lodged with council.”