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LOCAL LIFE
Aerial view of the area .
of an additional 100,000 residents in these precincts , on top of the current population .
“ While we recognise the urgency of addressing the housing crisis , rushing these plans through without proper assessment and infrastructure will lead to a quality-of-life crisis .
“ Both Blacktown City and The Hills Shire Councils are very competent at planning and accommodating growth , and this plan differs from what we would expect if Council prepared it . Chances are it would not have seen a gateway approval from the NSW Government without significant re-work ,” he added .
Key concerns outlined by Council include :
Flooding Risks : The area near Elizabeth Macarthur Creek is prone to flooding . Council recommends that no rezoning decisions be made until the Department ’ s flood assessment is complete .
Growth Distribution : Of the 47,800 additional dwellings planned across eight TOD Accelerated Precincts , 43 % are concentrated in just two precincts , including Bella Vista and Kellyville . This concentration exceeds the current population of several Sydney suburbs .
Employment Land Use : Council insists that rezoning must preserve the area ’ s job capacity and employment potential . Old Windsor Road is a crucial arterial link for businesses and commuters , and it will struggle to support the incoming population without significant upgrades .
Built Form and Scale : Further urban design analysis is needed to assess the impacts on the Elizabeth Macarthur Creek corridor and nearby low-density areas . Council recommends reducing building heights , increasing setbacks , and minimising overshadowing to ensure adequate sunlight for open spaces and streets .
Ecologically Sustainable Development : An updated flora and fauna study is required to consider potential heritage and ecological impacts before finalising the rezoning .
Building Certification : Council highlighted ongoing issues with private certification , which have led to significant
defects in some developments . Council urges the NSW Government to overhaul the certification system to restore consumer confidence and provide better certification protections for people living in strata complexes .
Traffic : The plan fails to account for the contribution of the arterial road network to regional traffic and productivity . Detailed traffic modelling should be commissioned to determine the necessary upgrades to support additional growth .
Public Transport : Council calls for more bus services , additional commuter parking spaces , and bus priority measures to improve access to Metro stations .
Open Space and Community Facilities : The plan provides insufficient funding for social infrastructure . All residents should have access to a local park within 400 metres , and the area needs more than a dozen new playing fields . The additional community centre and library space must also be funded .
Schools : Despite plans to further upzone the land to accommodate an additional 43,000 residents , no new school sites have been identified . Council stresses the urgency of planning and delivering new schools , including a high school on government land south of Sanctuary Drive .
Emergency Services : The NSW Government should honour its commitment to secure a site for a future SES headquarters within the Bella Vista- Kellyville Metro corridor , especially given the increasing frequency of natural disasters . The plan also lacks provisions for Fire & Rescue , Police , or local courts to service the new population .
For more information and to listen to the 13 August Council Meeting visit : www . thehills . nsw . gov . au / Council / Meeting- Agendas-Minutes / Meeting-Agendas- Minutes .
To have your say on the plans : www . planningportal . nsw . gov . au / draftplans / exhibition / kellyville-and-bella-vistastate-led-rezoning-proposal ? fbclid = Iw Y2xjawEyDbNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHT Rw9Tgbwd0l-aFl7aa9EqBnsGzwE7tO- 1iDD2GGzPRZ1sC5XdF1f _ tNag _ aem _ O _ hyVr8 _ hxI7mWXIxbX6BA .
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THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 111 // SEPTEMBER 2024 5