Council unites to oppose Hills development over fears of ghetto-style housing density
A MULTI-STOREY mixed use housing development planned for booming Box Hill area could well be a “ghetto” and is “being set up to fail” according to angry Hills Shire councillors.
Rouse Hill
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A MULTI-STOREY mixed use housing development planned for booming Box Hill area could well be a “ghetto” and is “being set up to fail” according to angry Hills Shire councillors.
The proposed six and seven storey developments at 4, Alan St, Box Hill, has been approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel, bypassing The Hills Shire Council, because it is worth more than $20 million.
The new development on what is virtually an empty paddock will see hundreds of new residents moving in a few years into Box Hill where The Gables and Hills of Carmel are also being developed.
However, the man behind the development, Jai Singhota, and the architects Edmiston Jones, said this was the first time they heard the council is objecting to the development.
“I am surprised to hear that the council is objecting to it,” Mr Singhota told the Rouse Hill Times.
Hills mayor Yvonne Keane said the council is worried about proposed development and want to meet Planning Minister Rob Stokes to discuss it.
“It’s terribly concerning and we see it as very dense development with very little transport links,” Ms Keane said.
“The state’s plan for Box Hill effectively switched off council’s development control plan and this means we could see apartment development of a scale that even exceeds what we can expect in our town centres.
“The problem is that this could lead to very dense development with virtually no open space or transport links provided for future residents.”
The Department of Planning and Environment confirmed to Rouse Hill Times that the former Sydney West Joint Regional Planning Panel approved a development application for a multistorey residential building at Alan Street, following a recommendation from Hills Shire Council.
“The precinct plan for this area was developed in partnership with The Hills Shire Council. “Extensive consultation was undertaken during precinct planning with the community and stakeholders, including council.”
Deputy mayor Robyn Preston said: “We have the possibility of very large buildings being approved in areas that were originally planned at a fraction of the density.
“We owe our community a better outcome.
“This development does not match our aspirations and the difference between this and the other two (The Gables and Hills of Carmel) are that there the developers worked closely with the council and respected our development control plans.
“In this case (4, Alan St), we didn't have the chance to work with the applicant.
“Families have invested in neighbouring land in the hope of building their dream home and will be faced with over developed sites that don’t provide open space, congest the roadways with extraordinary traffic chaos and have the potential to be ghettos of the future.”
And according to Liberal councillor and long-time Box Hill resident Peter Gangemi, “this new community is being set up to fail.”
Mayor Keane said they have really productive meetings with the Planning Minister.
“I’m sure he would be as shocked as I am to see what his Department’s controls are actually delivering — without any real safeguards being in place,” she said.
Labor councillor Raymond Harty acknowledged there was a demand for housing but the construction of the new estate in Box Hill needed to follow better development controls.
“Back in the late 50s and early 60s Crestwood (in Baulkham Hills) was the model of urban development,” Mr Harty told the council meeting on Tuesday.
“That’s why it’s seen as a desirable place to live.
“It started out the same as Box Hill and it provides a great quality of life. That cannot be said of what is occurring at Box Hill. There’s no critical infrastructure out there.”
Castle Hill state Liberal MP Ray Williams said he is also backing the council’s stance.
“While this area is going through a stage of increased density it is vital that the local character of The Hills is not lost,” Mr Williams said.
“It is therefore paramount that the Department of Planning acknowledge why council’s apartment controls are not being maintained,” he said.
THE FACTS
■ What: Construction of residential flats of six and seven storeys (more than 90 units), 128 car spaces and a road at 4, Alan Street, Box Hill
■ Includes: One, two and three bedroom units
■ Architects: Edmiston Jones
■ Approved by: Joint Regional Planning Panel
■ Opposed by: The Hills Shire Council because its density massively exceeds council’s development control plans
■ Other proposed developments for Box Hill: 29-31 Terry Rd (Topiace Pty); Terry Rd and Alan St (Idraft Group NSW); 7-9 Terry Rd (Zhinar Architects).
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