Residents warned that a rezone of land near Northern Beaches Hospital could be years away

Wakehurst MP Brad Hazzard has added a dose of “realism” to the campaign for a precinct plan for Frenchs Forest. Saying any rezoning is a long way away.

View from Warringah Rd of the progress of Northern Beaches Hospital. Picture: Martin Lange.

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RESIDENTS could be waiting years to have their homes rezoned in Frenchs Forest, with a lengthy planning process likely to follow any hospital structure plan.

Wakehurst MP Brad Hazzard said even if the structure plan — which has been delayed by more than two years — came out today, residents would face delays.

Mr Hazzard said he wanted to add some “realism” to the expectations of residents near the Northern Beaches Hospital.

Brad Hazzard answers a question during question time. Picture: Cameron Richardson.

“Even for a single block of land, it can take a couple of years. This is an entire area; to try and get it done in two years is a big ask,” he said

“It is an agreement in principle; it is not final, it has to go through the proper planning process.”

He warned it would be at least 18 months “if it tracks well” before any rezoning was official.

Resident Ken Burton called on the State Government to take over the project and speed up the process.

“If council have to do it, it can take years, if the State Government takes control of it, they can gazette it very quickly. We cant wait that long,” he said. “You can’t do that to people, you can’t just leave them in limbo.”

Planning Minister Rob Stokes would not say if he would use his powers to streamline the process.

“The structure plan is a really important step in realising new homes and jobs around the new hospital,” he said.

“Obviously (rezoning) will require public participation and detailed place design work.”

Former Warringah Mayor Michael Regan. Picture: Braden Fastier

He stressed the importance of public participation in the planning process.

Former Warringah mayor Michael Regan also called for Mr Stokes, and even Premier Mike Baird, to get involved.

“I will be personally urging the Premier, Planning Minister and local MPs to use the power of the Local Government Act so that they can save themselves significant time,” he said.

View from Warringah Rd of the progress of Northern Beaches Hospital. Picture: Martin Lange.

Meanwhile, Mr Hazzard said he and Mr Stokes “have asked in the strongest possible way” for the council and government departments to have a plan in place by mid-November. But the Northern Beaches Council still does not have a time frame for when it may be in place.

“This project continues to be one of (our) highest priorities and we continue to focus on achieving the best outcomes,” the council’s general manager, Mark Ferguson, said.

“This is a team effort and along with the State Government, we are working very hard on achieving agreement as soon as possible.”