Residents rally against Mirvac IBM site development in West Pennant Hills

COMMUNITY groups want to stop a development on the former West Pennant Hills IBM site, 28 ha of heavily forested land next to the Cumberland State forest, which is up for State Government approval.

Community groups are calling for the State Government to step in to prevent the development of 600 dwellings in West Pennant Hills.

COMMUNITY groups are calling on residents to take a stand against the “inappropriate development” of the former IBM site in West Pennant Hills.

The Residents Infrastructure Planning Alliance (RIPA), West Pennant Hills Valley Progress Association and Protecting Your Suburban Environment group (PYSE) have hit out at a Mirvac planning proposal for a medium to high-density development at 55 Coonara Ave, with a maximum of 600 dwellings, that will be sent to the State Government for Gateway Determination.

“There is a lot of concern about this proposal but very few people knew that it was approved to go to the State Government for Gateway Determination,” PYSE spokeswoman Jan Primrose said. “Mirvac has a development proposal in progress to rezone more than 28 ha of heavily forested land adjoining the Cumberland State forest in West Pennant Hills to allow for 400 apartments and 200 medium density houses.

The IBM site and the Cumberland Sate Forest. Image: Google Map

“Residents were shocked to find out the proposed rezoning is to allow apartment dwellings on the entire site with no protective environmental zoning for the critically endangered Blue Gum High Forest or endangered Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest.”

If approved, the development would include 20 studio apartments, 100 one-bedroom, 220 two-bedrooms and 60 three-bedroom apartments, along with 180 three and four-bedroom homes and 20 two-bedroom homes.

“For the community around the West Pennant Hills area, the Cumberland State Forest is our backyard and a green space where we can enjoy nature — it is one of the largest urban forests in Sydney and we want to keep it that way,” RIPA spokesman Andrew Harrington said.

“Even though they have capped it at 600 dwellings now, it doesn't mean that down the track the entire site couldn’t be developed.”

Mr Harrington also raised concern about a lack of infrastructure to support the increased use of Castle Hill Rd.

“What we will see is over 1000 extra vehicles funnelled from that development onto Castle Hill Rd, as well as other local streets and impact existing infrastructure,” he said.

An artist impression of homes at the West Pennant Hills IBM site.

A report from The Hills Shire Council rejected plans to apply environmental protections to the site.

“An alternative approach would be to apply an environmental protection zone such as the E2 Environmental Conservation zone to the constrained parts of the site however the application of this zone has been used sparingly in the past as it could potentially trigger land acquisition liabilities,” the report said.

A Hills Shire Council spokeswoman said the land was currently zoned at B7 Business Park.

“The proposal has been submitted to the Department of Planning and Environment and is currently awaiting Gateway Determination, which would set the framework for further consultation with the community and relevant public authorities,” she said.

Some of the residents who are protesting the development of the site. Picture: Ryan Osland

Mirvac Residential Development General Manager Toby Long said they “we’re aware that some residents are looking for further information about the proposed development”.

“We agree that the forests should be protected,” Mr Long said. “The planning process is still underway, however, what we have proposed sits within the existing footprint of the IBM buildings and roads, and preserves the site’s Blue Gum High and Sydney Turpentine Ironbark forests.

“We’ve also done a detailed traffic assessment which shows that the project would take pressure of the local road network with a reduction in trips compared with how it is currently being used.

“We always work closely with local communities to ensure that plans take their needs into account and we encourage anyone with concerns to give us a call on 1800 531 535.”

Artist impression of the proposed development at 55 Coonara Ave.

PUSH FOR SCHOOL AT IBM SITE

MEMBERS of the West Pennant Hills Valley Progress Association are calling for the State Government to purchase the IBM site in West Pennant Hills instead of allowing it to be developed.

Association president Carol Flanagan said the development of a school on the site would give the government a proactive opportunity to support the community and deal with an issue that continued to grow.

The tunnel dive site at Cherrybrook for the Sydney Metro Northwest. The IBM site is about 800 metres from the Cherrybrook train station.

She said the approval of 600 dwellings at the site would add greatly to the 4000 homes already in the West Pennant Hills Valley and there would be no extra infrastructure and amenities to support the development.

“A top portion of the site would be much more suitable as a school,’’ Ms Flanagan said. “Cherrybrook Technology High School is one of many schools in the area that is already at capacity, this is the ideal traffic problem solver and improve infrastructure for the region.”

Ms Flanagan said the site was the last piece of land suitable for a new school.

“We need more schools to meet local demand and this would be the best place to do it, while protecting local endangered bushland,” she said.

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“If Mirvac plans go ahead we will lose irreplaceable bushland … We are not against development but we are against inappropriate development.”

Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliot said he had been in close contact with residents in West Pennant Hills about the development proposal at the IBM site on Coonara Ave.

“While I share the desire of residents to see an optimal outcome, the land remains privately owned and any outcome relies on council zoning decisions and any future development application,” he said.