Rouse Hill residents raise concerns over plans for 700 vehicle bus depot at Mile End Rd
A development application for the depot, at 4 Mile End Rd, Rouse Hill, earmarked plans for more than 700 buses moving in and out of the precinct on a daily basis.
Rouse Hill
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ROUSE Hill residents have hit out against plans for a major bus depot just metres from homes.
A development application for the depot, at 4 Mile End Rd, Rouse Hill, earmarked plans for more than 700 buses moving in and out of the precinct on a daily basis.
However, residents have also raised concerns around the operational hours for the depot, which will start from 5am each morning and operate until 10pm at night.
Rouse Hill resident Kelly Zammit organised a petition against the proposal, which has already attracted hundreds of signatures and outrage from the wider community.
“I have walked the streets to inform residents of this and no one has any idea what is about to happen here,” Mrs Zammit said.
“We went and spoke the developers to get more information about the proposal.
“We were told this was going to be a small depot for 80 buses, but we have since found out there will be hundreds of buses going in and out of the depot every day.”
Ms Zammit said she has had an overwhelming response from residents on Mile End Rd.
“This is a small residential area and the roads just cant cope,” she said.
“We already suffer from daily traffic jams now, so this development would ruin our street.
“This depot will operate from very early in the morning to late at night, we will only get a few short hours of peace and quiet — I just can’t see how this won’t impact residents.”
The applications also comes as a proposal to widen and connect Mile End Rd to Annangrove Rd and Ross Pl, Box Hill was submitted to the Hills Shire Council.
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A Hills Shire Council spokeswoman said 13 residents made submissions to council, resulting in a conciliation conference for residents and the applicant alongside the Hills Shire Council local planning panel.
“The owners of 140 surrounding properties were notified of the application,” the spokeswoman said. “Stage one includes parking for 120 buses … stage two includes parking for 203 buses, split level parking for 200 vehicles and the relocation or increase the size of the associated office and amenity structures.”
A public meeting will be held in mid September.
CDCHills Bus failed to respond to questions from the Times.