Penrith City Councillors have delivered scathing responses to the State Government’s draft plan to rezone the Orchard Hills Precinct as they prepare to make a submission to the proposal.
In November last year, the State Government released its Draft Re-zoning Proposal for Orchard Hills Stage 1, which shows the plan to accommodate the predicted growth associated with the future Orchard Hills Metro Station.
Council has prepared an over 60-page document to be submitted to the State Government highlighting all the issues with the plan including the proposed fragmentation of land, lack of green space, rezoning of the prestigious Vines Estate, financial burden on Council, lack of employment opportunities and lack of greenspace.
Deputy Mayor Ross Fowler acknowledged development of the area is needed but that it needs to be done in a sustainable way that matches the community.
“It’s not that this Council doesn’t support what the overall proposal is around the Metro station,” Fowler said.
“What this Council doesn’t support is the manner and the way this planning proposal has been put together and without proper consultation, without proper consideration and without proper thought going into the various problems that will occur because of the proposal as it now stands.”
The majority of Penrith’s South Ward Councillors revealed that they had received numerous submissions from their constituents regarding the draft development proposal, as Councillor Vanessa Pollak said the proposal has left the community she represents uncertain.
“The proposal has left the community with significant uncertainty for the future of Orchard Hills. It is crucial that the Department get this right but unfortunately the current proposal falls short,” Pollak said.
“It seems to lack depth of understanding overlooking the great potential of Orchard Hills.
“Key issues such as infrastructure services, cost to the Council, feasibility and timing are not addressed and this is of great concern.”
Fellow South Ward Councillor Hollie McLean highlighted the lack of green space as another key concern.
“The development that is happening and the growth in our population is welcomed, it is the right thing for Penrith City. However, that needs to be done in a way that speaks to our environment, that speaks to our communities and speaks to our residential housing strategy,” McLean said.
“There is an 85-hectare shortfall of open space in the plan for 30,000 people in high density living. No one wants to live in an apartment without access to greenspace.
“No one wants to raise their families in apartment buildings without a park to take the kids too, without somewhere to go for a run after work or enjoy your weekend. There must be adequate, high quality open space.”
Councillor Sue Day indicated that the result of this proposal could have effects on a future State Election, should the proposal stay how it is.
“In my view this state-led rezoning proposal has more negatives than positives… I’m concerned about the impact on the people living in Orchard Hills. They’ve had this thrusted upon them without any concern about the stress it caused. Overall, it lacks feasibility,” Day said.
“Overall, people feel like they are being forced out by a very uncaring State Government, their words not mine, it’s stealing by stealth… their option is if the State Government persists with this unstaged approach, I wouldn’t blame them if they held them accountable at the next State Election.”
Councillor John Thain was concerned that there are not enough employment opportunities and doesn’t want mistakes of past developments to happen again.
“We missed out on the employment opportunities that should have been at Jordan Springs East. It hasn’t happened,” he said.
“So, I think we really need to be firm when it comes to employment that we’re serious… I think that it is really critical for the development to work properly is that we have proper employment to go with it.”
A number of Orchard Hills residents were in attendance at Monday night’s Council meeting, expressing their concerns.
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.