AN OPEN LETTER ON THE IBM DEVELOPMENT
We were all stunned and appalled that this proposal (MIRVAC plans for IBM site West Pennant Hills) was approved by the Planning Minister Rob Stokes under the new Fast Track Assessment Scheme.
The environmental impact on the Commonwealth listed critically endangered Forest alone should have stopped this development from proceeding.
While there were some minor amendments made during the fast-track approval process, they do not go anywhere near far enough to protect the threatened species.
In addition to the impact on the critically endangered Forest over 2,000 large mature trees are going to be removed from the site which is a ludicrous number from one site in the heart of suburbia.
Clear felling is an environmentally destructive approach. We feel that Mirvac cannot continue to claim that they are an environmentally responsible company, let alone “a force for good”; which is their motto.
Having the Minister rip $46.5 million worth of local infrastructure out of the proposal and allow Mirvac to instead replace that with a paltry $1.5 million in local development contributions just adds insult to injury.
We think Mirvac should provide that $45 million to Hills Shire Council to spend on other local infrastructure.
We think the constituents of the Hills and Hornsby Shires have been badly let down by the lack of effective representation from their local state members.
Member for Baulkham Hills David Elliott, NSW Treasurer and Member for Epping Dominic Perrottet as well as NSW Environment Minister and Member for Hornsby Matt Kean, are all NSW Government Cabinet Ministers, yet they were nowhere to be seen during the fast tracking assessment despite receiving over 700 letters and their offices being inundated with calls asking for help during the past month.
This proposal should never have been allowed to be approved and they could have and should have intervened.
If this high rise atrocity can be approved it bodes ill for the hundreds of other developments the NSW Government is considering for fast tracking including more in the local areas.
Of huge concern to locals would be the Government’s final report on the Mirvac site which says: the variety of dwelling sizes and configurations (6 storey units and 86m² micro lots) are suitable for existing and expected household types within the Cherrybrook Precinct.
We commiserate with the residents of Minister Perrottet’s electorate in Cherrybrook and Minister Elliott’s in West Pennant Hills. What a terrible precedent to set. 86m² lots might be suitable for the inner city but not suburbia, the road system and infrastructure will never cope.
WHAT’S NEXT? To allow the development to proceed on the site Mirvac will still need to obtain development consent. This process will include further detailed assessment of the proposal, as well as another opportunity for the community to make submissions. People are encouraged to again be involved with community consultation at the development application stage being imminent.
Jan Primrose
Spokesperson,
Protecting Your Suburban Environment Inc.
One of 12 local community groups that have formed ForestinDanger.
