Plans for 3500 new homes at Ingleside reduced

EXPECTED development at Ingleside will be significantly reduced following the latest results from bushfire mapping, according to Planning Minister Anthony Roberts.

An artist’s impression of what could have been at Ingleside.

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EXPECTED development of 3500 homes at Ingleside would be significantly reduced following the latest results from bushfire mapping, Planning Minister Anthony Roberts has announced.

It comes as residents have shown increased frustration at delays and questioned whether the long-promised plans would ever come to fruition.

“Following extensive review of the extent of bushfire risk in the Ingleside precinct, the Department of Planning has advised that the exhibited draft plans require significant amendment,” Mr Roberts told the Manly Daily.

NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts says the plans for Ingleside will be significantly reduced. Picture: Troy Snook.

“This will result in a much smaller development capacity than was originally considered.”

He said new analysis was only possible due to technology and assessment processes.

“I will not countenance the approval of any housing development that places residents in harm’s way,” Mr Roberts said.

The department is reviewing what development is possible, given the revised data around bushfires.

What could have been... the land release proposed for Ingleside will be significantly reduced.

It follows a Manly Daily report last month which revealed property developer Mirvac had put its 2ha land up for sale despite the State Government’s intentions to release detailed plans by year’s end.

The withdrawal of a major developer led to speculation from real estate insiders that land release which was proposed in 2016 may not go ahead.

“Any additional development in the precinct that emerges from this work is likely to be significantly lower than that which the plan previously contemplated,” Mr Roberts said.

The land which Mirvac has put up for sale in Ingleside. Picture: Adam Yip.

“A ministerial direction will be issued by the end of the year to ensure that any future development will be constrained by the significant bushfire risks revealed in the most recent bushfire mapping for the precinct.”

He said it would “significantly limit any incremental or ad-hoc residential development in Ingleside or other bushland in the Narrabeen Lagoon catchment”.

Rob Stokes launching a new suburb at Ingleside in 2016. Picture: Adam Yip

Pittwater MP Rob Stokes said while safety was paramount, the Planning Department needed to get on with the job.

“In one sense my focus is to ensure certainty. This has been dragging on for 60 years or more,” he said.

“Obviously the minister has to make the decisions based upon the best available evidence.”

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Mr Stokes, who was planning minister at the time of the land release announcement, said he was “surprised the right constraint mapping wasn’t done at the outset”.

“I understand the standards have moved but my call is to the department to get on and finish the work as quickly as possible so that people can move on with their lives,” he said.

“We also need to be very careful that this does not open the door to opportunistic ad-hoc subdivision.”