Residents object to Billbergia’s Bennelong Cove unit development at Wentworth Point
Beleaguered residents in a riverside suburb are ramping up their fight to block a waterfront development with almost 1000 units- three times the size of its original proposal.
Parramatta
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Frustrated Wentworth Point residents are ramping up their fight to block a Billbergia waterfront development with almost 1000 units – thrice the size of its original proposal.
The Bennelong Cove development, also known as Block H at 16 Burroway Rd, is one of the last remaining undeveloped lots in Wentworth Point and was originally for 350 units up to 25 storeys but amendments saw that leap to 642 dwellings up to 40 storeys and, the most likely scenario, is 997 apartments over 40 and 50 storey towers.
Parramatta Council displayed the plans for public exhibition in May and the council must vote again on whether it supports or rejects the complex in one of Sydney’s densest suburbs before the state government has the final say.
An online petition has amassed more than 1440 signatures objecting to the high-rise tower blocking residents’ views and placing more strain on the population, which suffers from infrastructure shortfalls, namely public transport and the government’s failure to commit to Parramatta Light Rail stage two.
Resident Anna Han has slammed the Bennelong Cove blow out of units which could soar to 50 storeys.
“It’s not Barangaroo, it’s not even Parramatta City,’’ she said.
“There’s no work opportunities here, it’s just a residential place. We only have limited infrastructure and the government’s not doing anything to make it better.’’
Resident Anna Han said it made an “absolute mockery” of the council’s planning guidelines and said it should not have gone against the advice of the council planners and Transport for NSW by putting it on public exhibition.
“What’s the point of having council and the government experts looking at plans if, at any stage, developers can ask for an uplift?’’ she said.
She said homeowners were told “your view’s not going to be blocked, it’s not going to be a high-rise, it’s going to be something smaller”.
“It’s misleading, it’s deceitful,’’ she said.
Under plans with Billbergia, if 642 units are approved, it will pump $34 million into upgrades and if 997 units get the green light, $71 million of developer contributions would be delivered.
Billbergia Group managing director John Kinsella defended the development.
“The final stage of our Wentworth Point town centre development goes well beyond two residential towers,’’ he said.
“It includes the need for infrastructure that will make it a great place to live.’’
Subject to the 997 units getting approved, it proposes an upgrade of the Hill Rd-Bennelong Parkway intersection with traffic lights, an outdoor swimming pool, a community pavilion and childcare centre, a 2.5 hectare park, foreshore promenade with amphitheatre, new club, pub and waterfront dining and the continued operation of the free Baylink Shuttle.
“Billbergia has a long and ongoing history of engaging with the community in Wentworth Point, including on our plans for Block H,’’ Mr Kinsella said.
“We also note council’s public exhibition, and the community interest this has generated.
“We remain committed to working with both the community and council to deliver the services they want and need in their suburb.”
Parramatta Liberal councillor Steve Issa said the council and the community needed to consider if the developers’ contributions justified the increase in units.
Labor councillor Patricia Prociv said all the services in Wentworth Point had come from developers’ voluntary planning agreements (VPA).
“Like any development the developers ask for more FSR (floor space ratio) and in response they offer VPAs and that’s what’s happened here. It’s difficult because the government has put nothing into Wentworth Point.
“There’s no park, there was no public infrastructure, everything has come from VPAs.”
Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger called for the state government to step up and deliver transport and services to the community.
“Developers have contributed millions of dollars in levies and charges to deliver public space and build great infrastructure such as the Bennelong Bridge that links Rhodes and Wentworth Point,’’ he said.
“The communities of Wentworth Point love their suburb and the lifestyle that is offers but it is the transport connections to Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park where they have been let down by the question marks over the future of Parramatta Light Rail stage two.
“Filling in the missing pieces of Wentworth Point will continue to open up the waterfront to the public and greatly improve active transport for the local community and visitors to the area.’’
Sydney Olympic Park Business Association chief executive officer Allison Taylor echoed the comments.
“We’re not anti development but the infrastructure absolutely has to match what’s proposed and that has to happen prior to the development — it can’t be retrofitted.’’
Reid federal Liberal MP Fiona Reid has started a petition calling for better services and approached her state counterparts, Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Planning Minister Rob Stokes, about overdevelopment, lack of transport, open space including safe playgrounds for children and inadequate infrastructure.
“I have an ongoing dialogue with the developers and look forward to meeting with them at the earliest convenience in order to work towards an outcome that benefits the community as a whole,’’ she said.
“It is clear to me that more discussion needs to be had between all parties involved in this development.’’
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