The Advocate can reveal plans for the development of thousands of homes across five residential precincts in South Dural were withdrawn by developers Folkestone-Lyon after a lapse in contracts between residents.

Plans were also pulled after a peer review conducted on behalf of Hornsby Council identified technical gaps in the planning proposal.

“Previous arrangements between the South Dural Residents and Ratepayers’ group and the joint venture arrangements between Folkestone Limited and Lyon Group Australia are at an end,” a letter from Folkestone-Lyon to the council revealed.

“While Folkestone-Lyon strongly support the underlying strategic and commercial merit of the proposal to rezoning of South Dural, we advise that this is not possible.”

The letter said the developers remained adamant that the plans were a “unique opportunity” to finance critical upgrades to failing State-owned roads and infrastructure in the community and deliver diverse housing.

Hornsby Deputy Mayor and Cherrybrook Residents’ Association member Vince Del Gallego said residents across rural areas surrounding the precinct have vowed to continue to fight the development, “if it reared its ugly head ever again”.

“This is a win for the community and for future generations of Australians who will continue to benefit from all attributes and natural features associated with our rural lands,” Cr Del Gallego said.

While Councillor Nathan Tilbury said the proposal was “dead, buried, cremated”, councillor Robert Browne said proposals to develop South Dural had been on the table since the early 1990s.

“I have to say that I am pleased that this decision has been made finally,” Cr Browne said.

“I think we all would have like to have seen this decision made earlier but there was a process that needed to be followed.

“The proponent is not going to appeal this to the Department of Planning and I am glad this has come to an end for the time being but this will come back, however.

“We are still facing issues at the moment around seniors housing which is a back door way of seeing this area developed.”

Residents Infrastructure and Planning Alliance spokeswoman Jacqui Goddard said residents should be prepared that a modified proposal could threaten South Dural in the future.

“The community will be relieved and pleased but also cautious as they have been blindsided before,” Ms Goddard said.

“This battle has been going on a long time.

“What we would like to see are some positive moves to protect the area — saying no to this does not rule out other forms of development.”

In 2013, Folkestone-Lyon lodged a planning proposal seeking the rezoning of rural land across South Dural.

The proposal resulted in community outrage and calls for major infrastructure upgrades before the proposal was considered and was passed on to the NSW Planning Department for Gateway determination.

The NSW Planning Departmen t recently wrote to the council revealing it no longer supported the Proposal for South Dural, “due to the identified cost to Government related to the provision of infrastructure”.

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