Residents fear land will be devalued overnight
THE reality of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis is hitting home, literally, for hundreds of property owners with the potential their land will be devalued overnight.
Macarthur
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THE reality of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis is hitting home, literally, for hundreds of property owners with the potential their land may soon be devalued overnight.
The Aerotropolis’ South Creek precinct, identified by the NSW Planning Department as the “green spine” of the future city, has hundreds of residents seeing red.
With the land earmarked as “non-urban”, homeowners in the draft South Creek precinct have united to fight for flexible use of their land and a fair resale value.
Bringelly resident Joe Herceg, who purchased his 2ha property in 2005, said the “verbal diarrhoea” of government bureaucrats was frightening the community.
“We moved here for that rural lifestyle and the space away from the suburbs,” he said.
“There was always rumblings of an airport, but it never worried me — it’s great for the area.
“(The government) is trying to beautify the aerotropolis and they want to build a waterway … but they want that waterway at the expense of the residents.”
Residents, who are already bracing for a 24-hour airport and city of 200,000 new jobs, believe a pre-existing one-in-100 flood line surrounding South Creek would be a better suited boundary to the precinct.
A Planning Department spokeswoman said the draft boundary was based on the “current understanding of the catchment”.
“No zoning decisions have been made,” she said.
“The final boundary will be determined based on consultation with the residents, businesses, councils, experts and other government agencies, including Sydney Water and Infrastructure NSW.
“The precinct boundary will ensure the right type of development occurs in the right areas and the creek is protected from inappropriate development.”
The department spokeswoman said the Land Use Plan, released last month, wasn’t a zoning plan and was not proposing to create a non-urban zoning.
“South Creek and its catchment and tributaries are important as they will be the central ‘green spine’ of Western Sydney Aerotropolis, providing environmental and social benefits, as well as open space and a recreation corridor for the aerotropolis,” she said.
“Non-urban land typically refers to rural land or land used for environmental protection or management.
“It may contain some homes and shops but will not include large-scale developments.”
United Realty principal agent Edwin Borg said a non-urban land use of the South Creek precinct would take many potential buyers off the market.
“A lot of people chased the rural lifestyle knowing they will eventually get a big balloon payment,” he said.
“They bought in the area thinking it’s a good place to live and a good retirement plan, but that’s just been blown out of the water.
“It won’t make the properties worthless, however, as a lot of people still want the lifestyle and space.”
Camden state Liberal MP Chris Patterson said he is attempting to clarify the situation.
“I am happy to meet with residents or their representatives when I have the facts,” he said.
“I will work with the Planning Minister and his department to ensure all the correct information is obtained, and that any resident concerns are addressed where we can.”
The Western Sydney Aerotropolis draft Land Use and Infrastructure Implementation Plan (LUIIP) is on exhibition until November 2.
Click here to provide feedback.
Department of Planning full statement:
No zoning decisions have been made.
At this stage, a draft boundary has been established based on the current understanding of the catchment.
The final boundary will be determined based on consultation with the residents, businesses, councils, experts and other government agencies, including Sydney Water and Infrastructure NSW.
South Creek and its catchment and tributaries are important as they will be the central ‘green spine’ of Western Sydney Aerotropolis, providing environmental and social benefits, as well as open space and a recreation corridor for the Aerotropolis.
Ensuring water quality and management is an integral part of the development of the Aerotropolis.
The precinct boundary will ensure the right type of development occurs in the right areas and the creek is protected from inappropriate development.
The Land Use Plan is not a zoning plan and there is no proposal to create a non-urban zoning over South Creek.
We have used the identification to reflect where further work on a range of uses needs to be investigated.
Non-urban land typically refers to rural land or land used for environmental protection or management.
It may contain some homes and shops but will not include large scale developments.
As mentioned previously, the final boundary of the South Creek Precinct will be decided based on consultation and further studies and reports.
The final boundary will identify suitable places for development and green infrastructure, such as parks and trees, within the precinct.
The Western Sydney Aerotropolis draft Land Use and Infrastructure Implementation Plan (LUIIP) is on exhibition until 2 November.
Feedback from the community is a vital part of shaping future plans and everyone is encouraged to provide feedback.
To read the draft LUIIP and make a submission, visit http://planspolicies.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=9552