FAST FACTS
for your objection
From the Planning Proposal – IBM site – 55 Coonara Ave, West Pennant Hills (1/2018/PLP), Ordinary Meeting of Council, 25 July 2017, Attachment C Item 4, Page 25
· Site is over 25 hectares. Total residential component proposed by owner is 23.37 hectares of the 25.86 hectares.
· The Blue Gum High Forest & Sydney Turpentine Forest on the site would only be protected as a "Vegetation Management Area" to "ensure ongoing maintenance".
· Crucially this Forest would have NO ENVIRONMENTAL ZONING PROTECTION.
· While the Environmental Report done for Mirvac refers to 12 hectares being retained in the south portion (ER page 10), the Hills Shire Council report shows the proposal map (THSC page 25) with the southern portion being rezoned R4 High Density Residential. This would presumably be for future development.
· The southern portion contains the old growth remnant Blue Gum High Forest and Sydney Turpentine Forest. The trees in this portion are much older than the ones in the Cumberland State Forest next door as that had previously been cleared many years ago
· Page 43 of The Hills Shire Council Planning Report states the planning proposal identifies that the R4 High Density Residential zoning "would be applied over the apartment precinct and extend to the rear boundary of the site over the existing significant vegetation area". Yet the Priority Precinct does not cover that area.
· Lot sizes will be as small as 86 sq metres !!! Three storey terraces. In bushland!!!
· Traffic flows do not include projected flows for High Density Residential in the rest of Cherrybrook Priority Precinct.
· Hills Shire Council had raised objections that you could use in your objection –
o The proposal does not facilitate employment outcomes
o Lower density is proposed for areas adjacent to this site
o It is outside walkable catchment of Cherrybrook Station,
o Impacts on local & regional road network have not been addressed
o Proposal fails to address additional local infrastructure needs
o Does not comply with unit size requirements - only 7% are larger size as opposed to 30% required by Council
o Visitor parking will be all on-street (presumably the terrace resident's parking will also be on-street)
IN SHORT:
How Council proposes to proceed (THSC Report pages 44 & 45) - Permitting Additional Uses in the B7 Business Park zoning (this Gateway proposal) which includes the residential development, THEN "Should the planning proposal proceed to finalisation and the site be redeveloped for residential purposes, it may be appropriate for Council to consider housekeeping amendments to rezone the site to reflect the approved uses" ie rezoning to R4 High Density Residential after Gateway approval for B7 Business Park Additional Uses.
The proposal would allow for 400 high density apartments and 200 medium density houses to be built on land that is currently zoned for B7 business park use.
The great bulk of this site is covered in critically endangered Blue Gum High Forest and Endangered Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest but no protective environmental zoning has been proposed. The development would also destroy Powerful Owl habitats. The owls are listed as vulnerable species in NSW. An ecological assessment of the site discovered nesting trees and roosting habitats on, and adjacent to the proposed 28 hectare development.
Not only is the proposed development environmentally damaging – it also lacks appropriate infrastructure and amenities, with the nearest public transport link more than a kilometre distant.
Apart from losing treasured local bushland, neighbouring residents would also have to contend with additional traffic gridlock on local roads, especially Castle Hill Rd, as a result of the increased local population.
The bulk of this land should be rezoned as E2 for environmental conservation with strong protections for mature trees on any part of the site rezoned residential. We want this beautiful forest to be protected, not bulldozed for high-density apartments.
