Meriton apartments planned for 263-281 Pennant Hills Rd Carlingford

A mega apartment complex with 629 units, shops and a childcare centre is planned for Sydney’s northwest but opponents fear it will cripple already-chronic congestion.

Joanne Vella

@Parramatta_News

less than 2 min read

February 9, 2022 - 12:20PM

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The forest of apartments filling Carlingford will become even more dense if a Meriton development with 629 units is approved.

The developer has proposed six blocks of apartments with a 110-place childcare centre, 17 shops and a 1146-space basement carpark.

Under plans lodged with Parramatta Council, Meriton’s sprawling project will impose itself on 263-281 Pennant Hills Rd, already notorious for its congestion.

The development application was lodged with the council but ultimately the Sydney Central City Planning Panel will decide if the project gets the green light or is dumped.

Parramatta councillor Ange Humphries slammed the proposal after strong community opposition to it.

More shops and apartments are coming to Carlingford if the plan is approved.

“Residents are very, very concerned about this proposal and we’ve received numerous representations from people in surrounding houses and complexes saying this is not appropriate for the area and something they objected to,’’ she said.

“It’s too big and there's already parking and traffic congestion in the area.’’

By 2023, Carlingford will be serviced by the first stage of the $2.4 billion Parramatta light rail, when the 12km line stretches from Westmead to Carlingford.

Others in the community say the NorthConnex tunnel, which opened in October 2020, has alleviated traffic on the arterial road.

Cathy Ladao, from Bush’s Fresh Meats at Carlingford Court, which is also on Pennant Hills Rd, welcomed the development.

“It’s good for the economics of Carlingford and for the businesses,’’ she said.

She does not believe the Meriton project would congest Pennant Hills Rd more.

“I couldn’t see any traffic with all the high rise apartments being built in the area because they use the back roads,’’ she said.

Meriton has proposed six blocks on the site.

NorthConnex has shaved up to 30 minutes of her commuting time from the Central Coast and she said only took drivers 10 minutes to reach the M1 from the shopping centre, instead of “half an hour”.

Whether that translates to more foot traffic at the shopping centre is unclear, with Covid having an “individual” impact on the shops.

Meriton has been contacted for comment.