High-rise units tipped for Frenchs Forest after State Government declares it a ‘priority precinct’

THE State Government’s involvement in a masterplan for Frenchs Forest means a proposed town centre could include buildings higher than the planned 12-storeys.

More high-rises could be coming to Frenchs Forest. Picture: Wayne Jones.

MORE high-rise units and increased density could be coming to Frenchs Forest, with the Planning Department declaring the area a “priority precinct”.

The council’s draft structure plan to make way for the incoming Northern Beaches Hospital released last November included a commercial town centre where Forest High School sits.

But the State Government’s involvement may mean the Northern Beaches Council’s proposed town centre could be expanded to a radius up to 800m, with buildings higher than the planned 12-storeys.

The planning department has declared Frenchs Forest a priority precinct.

The Manly Daily revealed in September that former Warringah council’s plans for 10,000 dwellings around the hospital had to be cut when the Transport Department declined to put in an east-west B-Line. But the announcement of a Beaches Link Tunnel has opened the door for more dwellings from the revised 2200.

Now residents — who have waited three years for clarity over what the future holds — are concerned there could be more delays and that the council’s masterplan may become obsolete.

However, both the council and Wakehurst State Liberal MP Brad Hazzard have touted the renewed focus as a positive, saying it will provide a more collaborative approach between key stakeholders.

Tim Pace fears planning could go back to the beginning. Picture: Martin Lange.

“A priority precinct means that there is a focus on the area from the State Government and it co-ordinates planning in a more proactive way between the State Government and the council,” Mr Hazzard said.

A spokesman for Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said he would consider declaring the precinct a Special Contribution Area.

“This means infrastructure will be funded by developers through a Special Infrastructure Contribution,” he said.

“Better co-ordination across government helps ensure infrastructure such as schools, parks, community facilities, public transport and road upgrades is delivered to support community needs.”

NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts. Picture: Bob Barker.

A Planning Department spokeswoman said the first priority would be to have the council’s master plan implemented.

“Plans for a ... Beaches Link Tunnel will also present further opportunities,” she said. “A phased strategy to increase the supply of new homes and create more jobs for the long term will be considered.”

Council administrator Dick Persson said the final Northern Beaches Hospital structure plan would likely be released in July.

“We don’t have any reason to believe it is not a positive thing. We are still waiting to see exactly what this means for us,” he said.

“It may mean (the town centre) will go wider and higher at the centre — only time will tell,” he said.

The council’s draft rezoning plan for Frenchs Forest.

Mr Persson said it meant the council could push for better transport solutions.

Frenchs Forest was “identified in the Greater Sydney Commission’s draft Northern District Plan as a future health and education super-precinct” with the under-construction hospital a “catalyst for growth”, according to the Planning Department’s website.

Karingal Crescent resident Tim Pace said Frenchs Forest homeowners were concerned the announcement could mean another exhaustive consultation process. He said residents feared further delays on top of the more than three years they had already been waiting for clarity.

“The areas they have outlined very similar to the 2010 State Government plan that came out, it is almost like we are back to the beginning,” he said.

“If that’s the case it is ­unforgivable.”