The Hills Shire Council is calling on local residents to have their say on the NSW Government’s plans for 42,000 homes between the Kellyville and Bella Vista Metro stations.
The Council says the NSW Government’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) proposal contains no plans for additional lanes on arterial roads like Old Windsor Road and only forecasts one public primary school and an inadequate number of parks and playing fields.
Mayor, Peter Gangemi said the Government’s plan contains significant flaws.
“In the weeks since the Government released its proposal, we have come to realise that their vision for Kellyville-Bella Vista will make it one of the most densely populated precincts in Australia, with a population density more akin to Manhattan than Sydney’s north-west,” Mayor Gangemi said.
“The precinct will have a population density of over 12,000 people per square kilometre which is comparable to Surry Hills, with parts of the precinct earmarked for densities over 28,000 people per square kilometre which would be like Haymarket, Chippendale and Green Square.
“I’m not convinced that our residents currently comprehend just how intense the NSW Government’s proposal for the corridor along Old Windsor Road will be.”
Mayor Gangemi said the most worrying part of the proposal is the “completely inadequate plans” to fund infrastructure to support the significant population increases.
“The section of Old Windsor Road between Bella Vista and Kellyville Metro stations already resembles a car park for much of the day. Now the Government wants to add what could be an additional 20,000 cars to the mix with no plans for a much-needed third lane between Old Windsor Road and Norwest Boulevard,” he said.
“That stretch of the road hasn’t been upgraded since it was surrounded by farms and market gardens, and now the Government wants to plonk one of the most densely populated precincts in the state on either side of it.”
The Mayor said that despite The Hills Shire having the most overcrowded schools in the state – with 46% over their enrolment cap by more than 100 students – the Government’s plans include just one public primary school in an area proposed for 42,000 new dwellings.
“Hills Shire public schools are already the most overcrowded in NSW, followed by our neighbours in Blacktown,” Mayor Gangemi said.
“We know that an area with this many homes would require at least three or four new primary schools and at least one or two new high schools.
“Unfortunately, we’re already witnessing a system failure in North-Western Sydney, where the Government hasn’t delivered it’s end of the bargain for residents still waiting for new schools, a long-promised hospital, and adequate funding for key roads and infrastructure projects.”
Hills Shire Councillors unanimously supported a Mayoral Minute to launch a high-visibility advocacy campaign, informing residents of the changes at this week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council.
Mayor Gangemi urged residents to have their say on the proposal before the NSW Government’s public exhibition closed on Friday 9 August.
“The Government needs to slow down and plan these precincts properly. They won’t be accelerated anyway because we all know the construction industry lacks the capacity to deliver right now,” he said.
To make a submission, visit the NSW Government’s Kellyville and Bella Vista state-led rezoning proposal by Friday 9 August.Â
