NSW Government promise no land in Riverstone will be acquired before rezoning for redevelopment

Years after secret plans for the redevelopment of parts of a rural town were uncovered by concerned residents, the NSW Government have promised no land will be compulsorily acquired before rezoning occurs.

Colleen Abela with local residents in Rouse Hill who feared their homes would be compulsorily acquired by the NSW Government for the redevelopment of Riverstone East (Stage 3). Picture: AAP IMAGE/ Angelo Velardo

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Years after secret plans for the redevelopment of parts of Riverstone were uncovered by concerned residents, the NSW Government have promised no land will be compulsorily acquired before rezoning occurs.

Riverstone residents have lived in limbo for the past six years, fearing the NSW Government were “trying to steal private land at low market value”, before moving to rezone stage three of the Riverstone East residential precinct.

Plans for the redevelopment of the rural area, which is bounded By Windsor Rd, parts of Garfield Rd, the Rouse Hill Regional Park, Clarke St, Tallawong Rd and Macquarie Rd, were originally released in March 2013.

The Murdaca family Lena, Michael and 16 year old Christian feared their home would be compulsorily acquired by the NSW Government for the redevelopment of Riverstone East (Stage 3). Picture: AAP IMAGE/ Angelo Velardo

Rouse Hill Heights Action Group president Colleen Abela called for the NSW Government to make an election promise to come clean on the future of Riverstone.

“Six years is a long time for valuable housing land to sit idle, “ Mrs Abela told the Times.

An early plan for the redevelopment of Riverstone East.

“Our homes are surrounded by precincts already rezoned for housing, including one in which a Government minister owned land.

“We are just 1km from the new Tallawong Metro station, close to a bus Transitway, next to three major roads, Rouse Hill Town Centre and the planned Rouse Hill Hospital, no wonder we are suspicious about why our land is not being rezoned.”

Mrs Abela said it was unfair the government had left residents in a state of limbo for so long, but last week — after residents called for the Times to intervene — the NSW Government made a commitment to the Riverstone community.

Office of Environment chief executive told Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly National Parks and Wildlife Service, “has no plans to compulsorily acquire any properties near Rouse Hill Regional Park”.

Colleen Abela campaigned for the NSW Government to come clean over its plans for the future of Riverstone before the NSW Elections. Picture: AAP IMAGE/Angelo Velardo

Mr Conolly told the Times the letter from the department “simply confirms what the Minister for the Environment has previously advised”.

“This was always more a case of unfounded whispers than any action, decision or plan on the part of government,” he said.

“Nevertheless I’m pleased that landowners have been reassured about the position.”

Mrs Abela said the announcement and commitment from the NSW Government was as good as it will get for residents.

“If they need to acquire land for public services, we understand that, but we wanted confirmation that the NSW Government was not delaying the rezoning of land so they could acquire the land cheaply, we have that now,” she said.

“We still need certainty around when this valuable housing land will be rezoned.”

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