Deputy Mayor eager to slow development boom in old town

OVER-development has spun out of control in an old western Sydney suburb and the region’s deputy mayor said now was the time to act.

Resident Kay Hearne is tired of townhouses going up around her home and having to deal with the fallout. She is pictured in her backyard which no longer has a pool for privacy reasons. Photo: David Swift

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Penrith Deputy Mayor Tricia Hitchen has over-development in Oxley Park on her radar as the new Penrith Council starts scrutinising and acting on issues in the area.

Cr Hitchen believes development in the suburb has spun out of council’s control and something needs to be done to pull it back in.

The East Ward councillor said easing the suffering of residents, due to parking, garbage and wider amenity issues, was one of her priorities list for this term.

“As much as development is required it’s happening so fast, and council, I don’t think, is getting ahead of it in regards to infrastructure and looking at the problems,” Cr Hitchen said.

Deputy Mayor Tricia Hitchen (right) was contacted by more than 100 residents during the election who voiced their concerns about the overrun suburb. Picture: David Swift

“By the time they are finished (in Oxley Park) there will be 5000 houses here.

“There are 5000 houses in Ropes Crossing. If you look at the difference in the size of the area, the amenity, parks, shops ... there’s no comparison.”

CoreLogic RP Data records show 14 sales in Oxley Park in just the past two months.

Cr Hitchen said that despite the State Government’s over-ruling of zoning and the need to “infill older suburbs”, which she understood, Penrith Council needed to consider development applications with a fine-tooth comb prior to giving the “rubber-stamp approval”.

Vehicles must pull over to the side of Oxley Park streets — even during work hours — to let trucks pass in the crowded area.

Garbage and parking regulations for townhouse builds could be altered, she said, to free up traffic and parking along congested streets.

Residents have seen bus stop “in the middle of the road” when parked cars have encroached on bus zones.

Kay Hearne has watched the streetscape change ”dramatically” since she moved to Oxley Park in 1988.

Mrs Hearne said her family felt forced to remove their backyard pool two months ago for privacy reasons, as townhouses sprouted along her fence line.

The resident, who has approached Penrith Council to divulge why the suburb is overrun, said property developers continued to knock at her door, urging her to sell.

Resident Kay Hearne speaks to Tricia Hitchen about the ever-changing suburb. Picture: David Swift

“We wanted to stay here until we were in retirement age ... I think we should wait until we wantto move, not have to move,” she said.

Cr Hitchen said of the area’s oldest residents: “They don’t feel welcome in their own streets any more.”

She said she expected her council colleagues to back her plans, which include using Section 94 funds to renew the Brisbane St park.

“I want it covered, I want barbecue areas, more play areas for all ages, maybe some sort of bike track around the outside so kids can ride their bike there instead of on the road — they are using speed humps as bike jumps.

A family plays at the Brisbane St park the deputy mayor wants to have upgraded.

“The upgrade would cost about $70,000 or $80,000 with coverings and that money should be there.”

She said the need to tidy up the Sydney St shops was another urgent matter.