Why National Trust objects to IMB site development
THE NATIONAL Trust of Australia has objected the proposal to build hundreds of high-density dwellings at the IBM site in West Pennant Hills.
Hills Shire
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THE NATIONAL Trust of Australia has objected the proposal to build hundreds of high-density dwellings at the IBM site in West Pennant Hills.
The submission comes as a the proposal goes before the Hills Shire Council on Tuesday night, following gateway approval by the NSW Planning Department.
“The National Trust of Australia NSW lodges a strong objection to the proposed rezoning of the property at 55 Coonara Ave, West Pennant Hills, from business park to predominantly high-density residential,” advocacy director Graham Quint said.
“Only 1.49ha, less than 6 per cent of the total 25.86 (hectares), is proposed to be retained and protected from housing development.”
Mr Quint said the trust was aware of the importance of the site and “the best use in the broader public interest would be for offices as an employment zone or as a TAFE or school”.
“Given the significance of the vegetation and fauna on this site and the need to retain valuable public open space in a region that will be facing major high density residential expansion, the major part of this site should be more properly rezoned environmental conservation,” Mr Quint said.
“Remarkably, the only area proposed for retention and protected from redevelopment is the area that has already been cleared of native vegetation.
“Redevelopment should be restricted to the area formerly developed for the IBM centre and its carpark and the award-winning IBM buildings should be retained.”
Mirvac general manager of major projects Toby Long said it was disappointing the trust had not “availed itself of the facts of this project”.
“Contrary to assertions in the National Trust letter, the community-led design masterplan proposes to make the site and forest areas publicly available and has proposed the highest cover of protection (E2) for forest areas,” he said.
“Numerous investigations have been undertaken into other uses for the site.
“With many years of failing to attract commercial users to the site and the impending tenant lease expiry in 2019, studies were undertaken to assess possible other uses.”
He said more than 65 per cent of the 25.87ha site would be accessible to the public, including more than 10ha of forest areas and 2.493ha of public open space, a children’s playground and community centre.