The Vines community in Orchard Hills is outraged after learning that their community is being planned to be rezoned by the State Government.
Labor has publicly released its rezoning proposal for Orchard Hills Stage 1, which shows parts of The Vines estate being slated for rezoning.
Properties would be compulsorily acquired as part of the government’s plan, in a major blow to long-term residents.
It would change one of Penrith’s most exclusive residential pockets forever.
The draft proposal rezoning and acquisition maps both identify an area of proposed acquisition and rezoning as being part of The Vines estate.
The new zoning will see part of The Vines being rezoned into R4 high-density residential and R3 medium-density residential.
R4 zoning being a minimum lot size of 300 square metres and a building height up to 15m and R3 allowing for dual occupancy, townhouses, terraces, villas and apartments with a minimum lot size of 300 square metres and a height limit of 8.5 metres.
A resident of The Vines estate, Mark George, has compiled a draft submission outlining the issues residents have with the draft zoning proposal and is planning on submitting it to the State Government in an attempt to change the plans.
“Our community, comprised of around 109 residential properties, is a close-knit and semi-rural estate with a history stretching back over 35 years. Many of us are original owners who chose to build and settle here over three decades ago,” the submission says.
“This land is not just a place to live; it is the foundation of our lives, with deep-rooted connections forged over generations. The proposal to rezone our land and forcibly acquire almost all properties is not only disruptive but represents an unjust and deeply flawed attempt to dismantle our thriving community.”
George’s draft submission highlights the community’s concerns about the proposed forced acquisition.
“The proposed acquisition poses an unwelcome threat to our financial security and emotional wellbeing. We are hardworking landowners who have invested substantially in our homes, land, and community,” it says.
“The State’s intention to forcibly acquire these properties undermines the decades of investment and planning we’ve put into building this estate from the ground up. Displacing families and severing long-standing community bonds is neither economically nor socially justifiable, and the impact of such a move would be felt for generations to come.
“This plan disregards the fundamental right to stability and security that we, as law-abiding landowners, have earned through years of dedication to this land.”
The draft submission says that the community was not informed with adequate enough time to assess and fight the rezoning proposal.
“The approach to notifying our community about this rezoning plan has been both abrupt and opaque. We were informed of the proposal mere weeks before the holiday season, with a restricted six-week window to respond,” the draft submission says.
“…the scheduling of divided times for information sessions has fragmented our ability to gather and address our concerns collectively. By isolating us into smaller, separated groups, this ‘divide and conquer’ tactic appears to limit our capacity for unified expression and collective strength.
“Such a strategy raises significant questions about the motivations behind this process and whether it is an attempt to suppress our ability to challenge the proposal as a united community.”
Residents are set to attend a public meeting at St Marys Band Club tonight where they are expected to raise concerns.
A spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure said the response period has been extended into the new year.
“The Orchard Hills state-led rezoning is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to activate land along the Metro corridor to deliver new homes and jobs,” the spokesperson said.
“The draft rezoning proposal including suggested medium-density housing for most of the Vines Estate is currently on public exhibition for community feedback.
“The exhibition period for the Orchard Hills state led rezoning will be extended to 5pm, Thursday, February 6 2025, following a decision by the Minister to allow more time for residents to provide feedback given the upcoming Christmas and New Year festive season.
“The Department will then review all feedback provided by the community and other stakeholders, before finalising the stage 1 rezoning proposal and structure plan in 2025.”
George’s submission asks for a meeting with those who can make real change to the draft proposal.
“In the interest of accountability, we demand that the key government officials and planners responsible… come forward to a public meeting,” the draft submission says.
“We insist they directly address the concerns of those whose lives and homes they seek to uproot and explain the rationale behind such a disruptive plan. Anything less would be an unacceptable abdication of responsibility to the very people they serve.”
More information on the draft rezoning package can be found on the NSW Planning Portal: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/orchard-hills-draft-rezoning.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.