Hornsby councillor’s bid to revoke plans for Cherrybrook priority precinct dissolved

A councillor battling overdevelopment across Sydney’s northwest has had his bid to reduce the size of a metro priority precinct dissolved by fellow councillors.

• Cherrybrook residents call for clarity around Metro station precinct
• Why developers are fleeing development in Cherrybrook
• Cherrybrook’s future to be redrawn after Council rejects masterplan
• Calls for Cherrybrook Priority precinct to be canned

A councillor battling overdevelopment across Sydney’s northwest has had his bid to reduce the size of a metro priority precinct dissolved by fellow councillors.

Independent Hornsby councillor Vince Del Gallego called for the State Government to reduce the size of the Cherrybrook Priority Precinct amid desperate calls from residents for clarity about the future of their changing suburb.

Cr Del Gallego’s proposal, which the Advocate revealed last week, was knocked back at a general meeting of council last week.

Hornsby Councillor Vince del Gallego is battling to save Cherrybrook from overdevelopment Picture: AAP Image/Troy Snook

He called for council to support a proposal to write to Planning Minister Anthony Roberts to call for the government to remove Cherrybrook as a priority planned precinct and reduce any development to government-land only. However, the proposal was knocked back.

MORE CHERRYBROOK STATION STORIES

FIGHT OVERDEVELOPMENT IN OUR SHIRE

CALL TO AMALGAMATE CHERRYBROOK PROPERTIES

LAST DEFENCE FOR HERITAGE GLENHOPE HOMESTEAD

“I got independent planning advice on this precinct, if we don’t take a stand, this whole precinct will be developed — the size of the precinct needs to be reduced to government land only,” he said. “It is becoming a farce and I will continue to fight this on behalf of the Cherrybrook residents.

An artist’s impression of the Cherrybrook Priority Precinct.

“The current process of waiting for the State Government to release information or instructions is very risky, because it increase the risk of proponent lead, ad hoc development.”

Liberal councillor Nathan Tilbury called for an amendment of the proposal, suggesting council “raise concerns about the length of time it has taken to progress the planning for the Cherrybrook Planned Precinct and the ongoing lack of certainty” with Planning Minister Anthony Roberts.

Hornsby councillor Nathan Tilbury. (AAP Image / Rafal Kontrym).

“Any proposal to focus on the government-owned land diminishes the importance of, and potentially prejudices the outcomes of, an overall strategy for education, health, housing diversity, community facilities and open space and infrastructure — including road improvements — for the entire region,” Cr Tilbury said.

A Hornsby Council strategic planner said council has received nothing in writing around the Planning Department’s intentions for the Cherrybrook Station.

“The last formal working group meetings were over a year ago,” the strategic planner said. “We have not been given an updated time frame and we are now waiting to see if there is a change in position.”

Amalgamated property sale document handed out at Cherrybrook Priority Precinct session upsets residents.

Cherrybrook Priority Precinct document.