By Dr Peter Gangemi – Mayor of The Hills Shire Council
9 February 2024
This is a must read post for all Hills residents with approximately 1 in 2 families impacted by these changes!
The NSW Government is threatening the family friendly character of our shire, significantly lifting densities, and I am encouraging Hills families to have their say on the proposal before it is too late.
The changes to low and mid rise housing are proposed within 800m of Metro Stations and Town Centres – even small Town Centres far from stations, such as Knightsbridge Shops in Castle Hill, Glenhaven Shops in Glenhaven, Crestwood Shops in Baulkham Hills and Coonara Avenue Shops in West Pennant Hills. Please see the attached map for the full areas within The Hills that will be impacted – it is around 50% of our residents in the shire.
Yesterday, I was doorknocking residents around President Road in Kellyville to let them know what the proposed changes would mean for their community. They were shocked and angered that the changes would allow six storey apartments in their area of 1 and 2 storey houses, over 3km from the nearest train station.
Under the State Government proposal:
• 2 Storey apartments, dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses and manor houses would be allowable in an R2 Low density zone within 800m of a town centre or metro station.
• 4 Storey apartments would be allowable in an R3 medium density zone within 800m of a town centre or metro station.
• 6 Storey apartments would be allowable in an R3 medium density zone within 400m of a town centre or metro station.
The Hills Shire Council has done our bit for housing supply, exceeding our dwelling targets and locating densities in the right areas, but this proposal will change the face of suburban areas of the shire that are not equipped to handle this lift in housing numbers.
The only way this proposal will be stopped is with thousands of submissions across the state opposing the changes. I am asking Hills residents to please join me in putting in a submission to the Explanation of Intended Effect: Changes to create low and mid-rise housing before it closes on Friday 23 February 2024 at this website. https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/explanation-intended-effect-changes-create-low-and-mid-rise-housing
