Plans for 1200 units at 1 Crescent St Holroyd
A western Sydney council is dreading a development that could house up to 1200 units because it is earmarked for an industrial site.
Parramatta
Don't miss out on the headlines from Parramatta . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Up to 1200 apartments could spring up in an industrial zone at Holroyd — a project that the Cumberland mayor says could spell an infrastructure nightmare.
Steve Christou slammed the redevelopment of 1 Crescent St, where applicant Tiberus proposes unit blocks up to 28 storeys.
“When you’re proposing to build maximum residential of 1200 apartments, put it right on the M4, and create a whole new community without the proper infrastructure, rail or bus and all the traffic concerns, there’s your concern,’’ he said.
The applicant sought a review of the planning proposal under state planning laws through the Regional Planning Panel, which rezoned the site from B5 to mixed use for homes and shops.
“This planning proposal is going to create high density development in the wrong location,” Cr Christou said.
“It’s the sort of development you may consider if it was next to a train station or major transport hub but it’s slated for a site that was industrial and is sitting next to a major motorway — it’s not smart planning and that’s why council would never support it.
“We are at a loss to understand why the regional planning panel would rezone this site and open the door to this high density residential development.’’
Cr Christou also said the development, which would also be built off Woodville Rd, was at odds with the State Government’s plan to regenerate the Parramatta Rd corridor.
“The residents of Holroyd now need to prepare themselves for a massive development going up in the neighbourhood and their existing infrastructure will need to service a much larger population,’’ he said.
The application for the units requires public consultation before the rezoning is finalised.
“I can’t do anything physically to stop it but we can make a lot of noise and make residents aware of what’s going to be built in their local community,’’ Cr Christou said.
Tiberus said the site was within 1.0km to 1.2km of Merrylands, Harris Park, Granville and Parramatta train stations but noted traffic needed to be better co-ordinated.
It said the complex would create 400 jobs, a footbridge linking to Woodville Rd, pedestrian links and about 11,000sq m for open space including a plaza, children’s playground and water play area.
A Tiberus spokesman said the council chose not to continue as the planning authority for the proposal two years ago and the State Planning Panel then appointed itself as the authority and voted it to be approved under gateway determination.
The gateway determination requires public consultation before the rezoning is finalised.
But Cumberland Council general manager Hamish McNulty said the applicant chose to bypass the council and requested that the government review the proposal, limiting its ability to influence the outcomes of the plan.
“At this stage, it is not appropriate for council to be the planning authority for the proposal,’’ he said.
“Council has an important role in working through issues raised for any proposal and advocating on behalf of the community. This occurs whether council is the planning authority or otherwise.”