A decision on the rezoning of land at Menangle is expected soon
A decision on the rezoning of land at Menangle to make way for a 5000 dwelling development application is likely to be made by the end of the week.
Macarthur
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A decision on the rezoning of land at Menangle to make way for a 5000 dwelling development application is likely to be made by the end of the week.
The Mirvac proposal has been unanimously opposed by Wollondilly, Camden and Campbelltown councils but the final decision rests with the five-member Sydney South West Planning Panel.
Community members and the proponents put forward their case for the land at the Station St precinct to be rezoned from rural to residential use during a meeting at Wollondilly Council yesterday..
The development proposal seeks to build 350 residential lots in stage one and a further 5000 houses in stages two and three.
Planning panel chair Bruce McDonald said a decision on the rezoning would likely be reached by the end of the week.
Wollondilly Council’s planning director Chris Stewart argued that the development was at odds with the Greater Sydney Commission’s (GSC) vision for the area.
Mr Stewart said the recent draft Greater Sydney Commission district plans placed Menangle in a metropolitan rural area, unsuitable for the development.
“In terms of the Greater Macarthur, that reffered to an investigation area... out of that work came a vision for Greater Macarthur and the vision shows two priority precincts and one was at Wilton Junction and the other was at Menangle Park and Mt Gilead,” he said.
“There were some representations by land owners around the Station St precinct to be included in that priority growth area and that wasn’t supported by the State Government.
“Council has a very clear vision of what it wants to achieve in the district plan... central to our vision is Wilton New Town.
“In terms of the rest of the shire though, there’s a strong desire to keep our rural landscape, in terms of our existing villages and towns only moderate growth is envisioned.”
Mr Stewart asked the panel to respect the work that had been put in to formulate a strategic direction for the region.
Mirvac senior development manager Aaron Baker said in the Greater Macarthur Priority Growth Area plan the land was excluded in the document but the proposal was specifically mentioned.
“There is a note in the document that there is a known planning proposal at our site... so we understand that because there is a planning proposal known that the document would exclude that area,” he said.
Mr Baker said that at a briefing earlier this year the developer was asked to provide information as to how the development would fit in with the then-Draft South West District Plan put out by the GSC.
“Our understanding was that it wasn’t found to be inconsistent with that draft district plan,” he said.
Under the proposal, Mirvac has promised to redevelop the historic Menangle Rotolactor and creamery.
Residents also raised concerns that the development would wreck the area’s heritage and rural scenery.
Menangle Store owner Brian Redmond, in a statement read to the panel, said the development would revitalise the town.