Residents, action groups protest over Mirvac plans for IBM West Pennant Hills development

Residents and action groups from across The Hills and Hornsby joined forces outside the IBM site at West Pennant Hills — demanding the ownership and maintenance of the forest within the Mirvac IBM site be handed over to a government department.

Hills residents protest the Mirvac IBM site development.

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Residents and action groups from across The Hills and Hornsby joined forces outside the IBM site at West Pennant Hills — demanding the ownership and maintenance of the forest within the Mirvac IBM site be handed over to a government department.

Artist impressions of the Mirvac development at the IBM site in West Pennant Hills

Forest in Danger spokeswoman Jan Primrose told The Times Mirvac had failed to identify who will take ownership of the endangered forest, which the Draft Development Control Plan suggests will be maintained by unit owners.

“We think the proposal of unit owners maintaining the forest is the worst possible outcome,” Ms Primrose said.

“The community title management will have to allocate its fees to internal roads, street lighting, communal areas and the Forest and its amenities.

Artist impressions of the Mirvac development at the IBM site in West Pennant Hills

“Forest maintenance could not and will not have the highest priority.”

Ms Primrose said there was a lack of a permanent conservation covenant within the planning agreements.

Geoff Dowsett: "We need to understand that population growth is the green light for developers".

Jill Green, STEP President: "We want to preserve bush land and are seriously concerned about the loss of Blue Gum High Forest which is critically endangered along with the species that call it home and they need to be protected,” she said. “This habitat is important."

“Mirvac appears to have offered the Forest to the State Government without any funds for ongoing maintenance,” she said.

“We think this is why no State Government authority will take on the Forest because Mirvac

will not provide any funding mechanism for maintenance of the Forest.

“We no longer feel we can trust what Mirvac says it’s going to do and we don’t think the community should either.”

Catherine Ward and Susan Jane: "We are lucky enough to have this forest and it needs to be protected, there is hardly any forest left in the area and we need to protect it," Ms Ward Said. "There are koalas, rare trees and other threatened species that call this place home."

Charles and Val Adderley, Cherrybrook: "This is uncontrolled population growth which will kill the environment and this development is adding to it."

The draft plans, which are currently on exhibition for community consultation also suggest the forest could be regional open space, however, the environmentalists hit out at the suggestion.

Mirvac development director Adrian Checchin said the proposal has always sought the highest protection for the forest.

“Mirvac made an offer to dedicate the forest to the State Government in March 2018, this would enable this important area to be handed to experts to maintain and care for it and also for the forest to be opened up for the public to enjoy,” Mr Checchin told the Times.

“Should the State Government take up the offer no conservation covenant would be required as the forest would be publicly owned and maintained and zoned for environmental conservation.

“We welcome the State Government’s renewed commitment to increasing green spaces in Sydney and our offer is currently being considered by Department of Planning & Environment.”

Mr Checchin said the local environment plan zoning map, which includes E2 Environmental Conservation zoning of the forest, is currently on exhibition.

“We are looking to repurpose the current business park into a low rise, family-friendly community in a protected, bushland setting,” he said.

“The proposal is unchanged from when it was first supported by Council in July 2017, and since Mirvac’s community information sessions in December 2017 and November 2018.”

Hills Shire mayor Michelle Byrne called for residents to raised submissions to the proposal before May 31.

“As with any planning proposal, we look to see if the development is well-planned, adheres to the local character of the area, supplies a mix of housing and provides our residents with all the things they need to enjoy the best possible quality-of-life,” she said.

Artist impressions of the Mirvac development at the IBM site in West Pennant Hills