Opposition for Crescent Parklands units at M4, Woodville Rd Holroyd

It’s close to sealing full government approval but a fight to halt a massive apartment complex on one of NSW’s “worst intersections” and public transport black spots continues to rage.

Cumberland Council and community public transport advocates are pleading with media mogul Kerry Stokes and the government to reconsider the $525 million Crescent Parklands unit development at Holroyd.

In March, the state government’s Sydney Central Planning Panel rezoned land at 1 Crescent St, which advanced Kerry and his son Ryan Stokes’ Australian Capital Equity (ACE) Property project to build 1255 units reaching 28 storeys or 96m, to be called the Crescent Parklands.

However, despite almost crossing the finish line, there is one more development application that needs to be lodged and approved before the government permits the project, which is on the former WesTrac site on the corner of the M4 and Woodville Rd. The arterial Church St and Parramatta Rd feed into the intersection, compounding traffic.

Objectors are still fighting to block the project, which the developers have spruiked as being close to Harris Park, Granville and Merrylands train stations — which opponents slammed.

An artist impression for Crescent Parklands at Holroyd.

Councillor Steve Christou savaged the “pathetic site” and said the developer bypassed the council’s laws.

“We have a very, very wealthy developer here who wants to whack up — on one of the worst intersections in NSW — close to 1800 (units) right in the heart of Granville bordering Parramatta,’’ he said.

“People in Granville already have issues with their public transport whether they be Granville station or Harris Park, these stations are about 1.5km to 2km from the site.’’

He rejected the developers’ suggestions that the stations would not be far to walk to from homes.

“Well, for old people and mothers carrying children and prams, it’s definitely a marathon, not a walk,’’ he said.

“To get to Harris Park you basically have to climb a hill. To get to Granville station you have to walk on a main road, so the developer has not in any sense fabricated or taken any consideration into the input of this council to cram 1800 units into an area such as Granville.’’

Ryan Stokes on the former WesTrac site where more than 1200 units are planned. Picture: Tim Hunter

He said allocating space on the corner lacked “any planning logic” and ACE’s plan to address traffic woes with an extra lane on The Crescent was not a solution.

Councillor Joseph Rahme blasted the project’s lack of infrastructure.

“It’s arguably the worst intersection in Sydney,’’ he said.

“The entry points in and the exit points out are horrendous. Anyone that says it’s close to a station is probably making that call from the eastern suburbs where they live.

The Crescent Parklands is on the very congested M4 and Woodville Rd intersections.

“To expect someone to walk to Harris Park is an absolute joke. Clyde station is a joke, Granville station is too far and you’re dodging peak-hour traffic along Parramatta Rd.

“Anyone that advocates for this either has no brain or an overlying or underlying pressure to support it.’’

Public transport advocate Roydon Ng backed the council’s plan to block the development.

“One would think that walking past busy and noisy Woodville Rd, and along Parramatta Rd to Granville, and then also potentially under the M4 to Harris Park, isn’t particularly appealing for commuters,’’ he said.

After the meeting Mr Ng also dismissed Transport for NSW plans for a pedestrian footbridge linking residents to Granville station, saying it would not be built because of the developers’ plans to fund it and part of the site on private land.

“Despite being between three stations — Merrylands, Harris Park and Granville — it’s a public transport black spot and it’s not suitable,’’ he said.

The contentious development initially proposed 1900 units when plans first surfaced in 2015.

This month, the council unanimously agreed to authorise general manager Peter Fitzgerald to liaise with ACE and state government about the planning proposal.

An ACE spokesman said the 3.87 hectare development was well located and would provide much needed housing to the community, including 90 units classified as affordable housing.

“Crescent Parklands is a great site and well located for much needed housing, especially affordable housing and public open space in this fast growing area,’’ he said.

“During the extensive community consultation and exhibition periods over several years very few community concerns were raised and we addressed them in our material to the Planning Panel, which recently approved the zoning of Crescent Parklands.’’

A shuttle bus will ferry commuters to Harris Park train station.

A Planning Department spokeswoman said it was proposing a six-month deferment to allow time for the developers and the council to discuss infrastructure planning.

“The development application process will provide further opportunities for the community to provide feedback,’’ she said.

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