Wait over Northern Beaches Hospital home sales in Frenchs Forest

HOMEOWNERS hoping to sell their houses for millions to make way for the new Northern Beaches hospital in Frenchs Forest have been told the project has been hit by a delay.

HOMEOWNERS hoping to sell their houses for millions to make way for the new Northern Beaches hospital in Frenchs Forest have been told the project has been hit by a delay.

Warringah Councils’ mayor, Michael Regan, has written to 4500 homes surrounding the site to say a traffic study, which was supposed to be finished by the State Government, will not be finished until the end of the year — because it failed to allow for future growth.

He’s also warned homeowners that nothing has been finalised and to ignore rumours about people getting huge sums from circling developers.

This more detailed traffic study is delaying Warringah Council’s Precinct Structure Plan which will recommend rezonings and is expected to result in developers snapping up houses to demolish for units.

Lauren Enfield and Mark Hoare with their son Dion Hoare, four, who were among residents approached back in May about their homes.

Pam and John Oxenford who were among residents approached back in May about their homes.

Cr Regan said the Council had been contacted by frustrated homeowners. It’s understood some are being paid three-year deals to hold onto their property.

“It’s understandable people are frustrated when they’ve been promised vast amounts of money from developers but I caution people to hold off making plans until decisions are made about rezonings. No decisions have been made.” he said.

The mayor also said he’ll never stop pushing for a Bus Rapid Transit system from Dee Why to Chatswood, rather than a regular bus service planned by the State — but said this is not what’s holding things up.

“The community in the first round of consultation said they would accept growth but only with a BRT to ease congestion. One State department ruled that out, but another kept pushing forward with road changes. Now, they’ve had to carry out a detailed traffic study to work out the real transport impacts.”

As reported in the Manly Daily in May, homeowners close to the Warringah Road and Wakehurst Parkway hospital site are being offered multi-million dollar windfalls of up to double the market value to sell, and payments to hang onto their homes until zonings are set.

Owners in Naree Rd, Rabbett St, Frenchs Forest Rd West, Holland Cres and Gladys Ave have signed.

There have been letterbox drops in Frenchs Forest East and Iris St, as well as Warringah Rd, in Hilmer St, Karingal Cres and Fitzpatrick Ave East.

The affecting area can be found at warringah.ourcommunitymap.com/hospitalprecinct