Warringah Rd, Frenchs Forest: Call to give back land not used for road upgrade

Authorities demolished two houses to make way for the Northern Beaches Hospital road upgrade, but ended up not needing the land. A push is on for the land to be given back.

Northern Beaches councillor Stuart Sprott wants land at Frenchs Forest, near Maxwell Pde, which was resumed by the NSW Government, but never used as part of the now completed $500 million Warringah Rd upgrade, to be gifted back to the community to add to public open space. Picture: Northern Beaches Council

A push is on for two blocks of private land, that were compulsorily bought by authorities to make way for a $500 million upgrade of a major local road corridor, to be given back to the people of the northern beaches.

A member of Northern Beaches Council wants the NSW Government the hand over the land — which used to accommodate two family homes — on Warringah Rd at Frenchs Forest, for free.

The Warringah Rd underpass at Frenchs Forest, part of the $500 million upgrade to the road network around Northern Beaches Hospital. Picture: Transport for NSW

Roads and Maritime Services paid a total of $3.05 million for the two properties in 2017.

Cr Stuart Sprott had lodged a Notice of Motion for Tuesday night’s full council meeting, calling on it to approach Transport for NSW (TfNSW) about reclaiming the surplus sites at the western end of the Northern Beaches Hospital Road Upgrade project.

He said the land, just east of the intersection with Maxwell Pde and adjacent to the above-ground Sydney Water pipeline, can now never be built on.

The land at Frenchs Forest, near Maxwell Pde, used to accommodate two family homes before it was bought by the RMS and the houses demolished. Picture: Northern Beaches Council

“The land is attached to the large underground water detention tanks to the left and has a water easement at the rear, with the main water supply pipeline to the right,” Cr Sprott said in background notes to his motion.

“All these hazards make this land unsuitable for residential purposes.”

But, Cr Sprott told the Manly Daily on Monday, the site would be an ideal addition to the area’s store of community open space.

The then Roads and Maritime Service resumed about 20 residential and commercial properties to build the Warringah Rd upgrade that was designed to reduce traffic congestion around the hospital.

The house at 597 Warringah Rd, Frenchs Forest, before it was demolished. Picture: Supplied

But it did not use the two blocks which were located at the exit of the cutting for the new hospital upgrade road works where six lanes merge into three.

“Why not ask the NSW Government to gift the land to Northern Beaches Council. Council can then return it to open green space for the whole community to enjoy. “ Cr Sprott said.

“Last year TfNSW already agreed to protect trees on the sites.”

Cr Sprott’s motion also calls on the Council to write to Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Roads Minister Andrew Constance and Planning Minister Rob Stokes, as well as the MP for Wakehurst — and Health Minister — Brad Hazzard, asking for their support.

TfNSW has been contacted for comment.