The Greens have called for greater transparency and consultation over plans for a massive increase in housing around Cherrybrook station.

Emma Heyde, Convenor of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Greens said, “What the drop-in session at Cherrybrook failed to tell residents was that a detailed Structure Plan has already been created for the Cherrybrook station area. The Plan contains extensive and detailed plans for types and location of new developments.

“These plans detail up to 3,200 dwellings by 2036 in the form of 3,150 apartments and 400 townhouses, to be build mostly on the northern side of Castle Hill Road.

“It was extremely disappointing that none of this detailed Plan was shared with residents at the only community consultation session. The information handed out was totally lacking any kind of meaningful detail.

“This lack of information is just another example of the NSW planning system keeping residents in the dark about massive developments in their area. It is not good enough.

“The Greens will always back the right of communities to be consulted on proposed developments,” Ms Heyde said.

BACKGROUND

Priority Precincts remove local councils as the planning authority, and passes that authority to the NSW Minister for Planning. This means the usual system of checks and balances is absent. There is no partnership between local government and state government: the Minister is free to rezone land without consultation with the Council or with residents.