Comments made here were sent to The Hills Shire Council. Add your own comment.
Hello,
As a resident of the area for almost 30 years (i'm 30, not an old person), i'm against this development. It is in no way in keeping with the aesthetic of the area, and the roads are in no way designed to handle the extra traffic flow. It would also open up the flood gates to high density in Winston Hills. We don't want it, and we like the suburb the way it is. Keep high rise where there is already high rise!
We don't want this development. Leave Winston Hills as it is! It will ruin the neighbourhood. It's bad enough that you're trying as hard as you can to get your hands on Winston Hills
I have lived in Winston Hills most of my life and my family have bought many properties in the area, we have seen many changes over the years such as New parks, new mall, road improvements like the round a bouts along Caroline Chisholm Drive and much more.
I am looking forward for my 6 children to live in Winston Hills the way I did and have the great memories of the area as I do, I feel this development of the units will have a massive impact on our life and the lives of other locals. Schools will be overloaded and won't have the cozy family vibe, the shopping mall will be a nightmare to shop at and the traffic on our already busy roads will be an inconvenience.
Instead of units I would like to see a wider road put into Romulus street at Max Ruddock park as I can see the street from my house and see how dangerous it is for all the young children who play sports at the park.
Hi
My name is Dean Floody
I have lived in Winston Hill for 7 years after moving from Wentworthville and have seen first hand the changes that occurs when a aria is re zoned into higher occupancy.The increase in cars trying to park that will overflow to parking on the street . As having a young family I know and appreciate some of the pressures that the local schools are already under only this year a before and after school care through out 25 family s because of the high demand and they where not attending the public school with all schools running at a very high occupancyand the criteria get narrowed how much extra pressure can we place on them . But also to a degree a brake down of community spirits as people in units don't seem to be as open conversation community spirit this is only based on my own experience and also the reason I moved into Winston Hill in the first place where people still walk down the street and say hallo
We don't need or want this in our suburb, The Hills Shire council leave our suburb alone as it won't affect your constituents !
Please say no to this development application. As a resident of Winston Hills for 11 years and both my children at local schools, I value the small community feel of our suburb. There is currently no unit development here. The traffic problems 102 units would create would overtax an already stretched road network, the shopping mall would be impossible to use, local schools would be inundated with new students without the infrastructure needed to accommodate them, and would create a dangerous precedent of high density development in our family friendly suburb. Many feel as I do about this. I have already seen the units advertised, I doubt this is legal. Roisin Wall
I would like The Hills Shire Council to consider not approving the above DA based on a number of concerns:
1) The proposed development requires the amendment of the Hills Shire LEP2012 to rezone the subject lot from B2 ‘Local Centre’ to R4 ‘High Density Residential’. This will be the only R4 Land Zone within a radius of at least 2.5km with the nearest High Density Residential Zone being the cnr of Arthur St and Yattenden Cr Baulkham Hills.
2) The subject lot is contained within the suburb of Winston Hills which has a Land Zone of R1 ‘Low Density Residential’ and apart from the subject lot and a small industrial area, are within the LGA of Parramatta City Council. Therefore this proposed development will go against the general amenity of the local area.
3) The site of the proposed development is a central location for the suburb of Winston Hills being the location of the largest shopping area and the local Hotel. Including a High Density Residential complex in this location will increase the amount of traffic (both foot traffic and vehicular traffic) in an area that already suffers congestion during peak times.
4) The site of the proposed development is directly across the road from a park that is adjacent to a local public school. The increased vehicular traffic caused by this development will increase the risk of injury or death to local primary aged school children.
5) The main arterial access roads to the proposed development location are Windsor Road and Old Windsor Road and these are linked to the proposed development location by only single lane residential roads, including Oakes Rd, Gibbon Rd, Caroline Chisholm Drive and Junction Rd. As a result, this development will see a significant increase in motor vehicle traffic during peak periods which will increase the traffic flow and congestion already evident on these roads.
6) The design of the proposed development will increase the population of Winston Hills by approx. 2.5% once the proposed development is completed and occupied. This is based on an estimated 265 residents in the 102 apartments and a 2011 ABS Census that Winston Hills contains approx. 11,100 people. This is a significant and sudden increase to the population of an established suburb with little or no consideration to the required infrastructure adjustments necessary.
7) All roads, parks and public amenities servicing the area are the responsibility of Parramatta City Council who has chosen in their 2011 LEP to maintain the long standing status of Low Residential Land Zone for this suburb.
8) The 3 primary schools contained within Winston Hills and the 2 nearest primary schools not within Winston Hills are already crowded and would be negatively impacted by increasing the student levels as a result of this development.
9) Approx. 94% of the proposed apartments within the development are 1 or 2 bedroom only. The current and planned demographic for the local area, including the nearby suburbs of Baulkham Hills and Northmead are families and yet the inclusion of such a high percentage of 1 and 2 bedroom dwellings does not support this strategy. Clr Andrew Jeffries recently reaffirmed this strategy in an article in the Hills News dated June 2 2015 and I quote:
"I would argue that the size of the apartment will absolutely determine the character of the neighbourhood and the local impacts," Cr Jefferies said.
"It will determine whether we provide accommodation for a family population or a transient population."
The mayor said population forecasts allegedly showed families would dominate the area by 2031.
"Minimum size apartments are not the answer, and unfortunately they are just fuelling a predominance of one and two-bedroom small apartments that suit investors and add to developers' bottom lines," he said.
I would again request that The Hills Shire Council consider not approving this DA and respect the wishes of the residents of the surrounding suburbs of Winston Hills and Baulkham Hills who have chosen to live in Low Density Residential areas
I feel that the increased impact of building this project on roads and parking facilities in Winston Hills has not been adequately investigated. Parking in the shopping centre is already inadequate, with traffic often banking up on Caroline Chisholm Drive and Bellona Street.
I am all for beautifying the mall and its surrounds but the building of multi-storey units is not in keeping with the general look and architecture of the suburb.
Winston Hills is a protected pocket of real estate where at most residents have been subjected to dual occupancy. To protect this aesthetic and the family friendly environment currently present in the suburb, high density residences should be kept at a minimum.
I understand that a demand for housing in the area and in Sydney generally is pushing these developments through. But this happens at the cost of families enjoying the environment in which they live.
I strongly oppose any move to introduce high density housing to Winston Hills.
I am registering my objection to the above proposed development in my local area for the following reasons:
1. Andrew Minto of Glendinning Minto & Associates states in his proposal: “The subject site does not seek to maximise car parking and this is seen as a positive deterrent to reliance upon private motor vehicles”.
This, as you would already be aware does not meet the current Council DCP carpark provision guidelines of 197 car parking spaces. Andrew Minto seeks to ignore these guidelines and suggests that offering less car spaces than would agreeably service the proposed number of 102 residential units is acceptable.
Interestingly the "Registering of Interest" promotional brochure that is being distributed online by the owner of Winston Hills Mall and TCG uses the currently available 1200 car parking spaces as a selling point. Thus it appears prior to this proposed development ever being approved the intention is to utilise these currently available car parking spaces for residents of this new development.
The overflow of vehicular traffic emanating from the proposed 102 units (especially during peak times of social gathering ie: Easter, Christmas etc) would undoubtedly flow into the current Winston Hills Mall community car park and impact on the quality of life of current residents.
We are a suburban (not inner city) community who have chosen to live in a less densely populated area. Additionally we pay land rates that afford our community the option of being able to readily utilise our personal vehicles. Inherent in this concept is the availability of things such as adequate off street parking and lower per capita levels of residential population.
Additionally to this, some parents and carers of a child/ren with Special Needs who find it untenable NOT to rely on their private vehicles for transportation due to the nature of their child/ren's disability will potentially be seriously disadvantages if this proposal goes ahead. The current parking provisions within Winston Hills Mall Shopping Complex are quite minimal in regards to size ie: the ever decreasing width of car park spaces is NOT conducive to enabling carers to easily allow their child/ren to alight out of a vehicle with complete safety as it is. A busier local shopping precinct is also not going to assist these local family's in this endeavour.
I believe I am correct in stating that the not too long ago Council installed ticketed parking in Winston Hills Mall car park was in an effort to dissuade commuters of local public transport such as the M2 Buses from utilising this car park as all day parking and thereby impeding and / or inconveniencing daily patrons of Winston Hills Mall by taking up unnecessary car spaces for long periods of time.
By increasing available housing stock in this specific location you run the risk of doing just that – having the overflow from these residential units filter down into the general Winston Hills Mall and The Winston Tavern car parks as well as surrounding residential streets such as Junction Road, Buckleys Road and Gibbon Road.
The ticketing system may prevent these new residents from parking all day – however this will only serve to send them out into the aforementioned already overcrowded surrounding residential streets.
There is currently already a safety issue of concern in regards to the large amount of vehicles now choosing to park along Junction Road. This impacts on the safety of all those attempting to turn either left or right out of the Junction Road exit from Winston Hills Mall – as visibility is seriously impeded in both directions.
Daily commuters who are parking in Buckley’s Road are presenting a safety issue to over 320 families who attend Winston Heights Public School and need to alight and enter vehicles twice a day. The same can be said for Junction Road and the over 800 families who utilise Winston Hills Public School. Extra vehicular traffic on either of these roads runs the risk of impacting the safety of both these local school children and their families as well as the immediate residents.
Worthy of note here also is the fact that not everyone who lives in Winston Hills resides within a comfortable walking distance from either a bus stop or one of the newly planned North West train stations. So Andrew Minto’s above claim about creating a scenario that requires local residents to utilise public transport will seriously impede the quality of life and independence of many residents. Particularly those who have a disability and / or are elderly and find personal vehicles a necessity, rather than a luxury.
Currently M2 commuters are being allowed to persist in parking on the left hand side of Junction Road near the Cropley Drive Round about. No “No Parking” restrictions are currently in place. This allows for vehicles to be parked right to the very limit of the M2 overbridge – which can at times mean those attempting to navigate this Cropley Drive round about in vehicles, have their progress impeded – as parked commuters vehicles are jutting out onto the roadway – just as you exit this round about. Increased housing stock containing additional residents and their inherent vehicles will again exacerbate an already fraught situation in this locale.
2. Andrew Minto has stated his proposed development will be: “……….compatable with the desired future character of the locality…………as anticipated by the council Controls” and “….it is considered that the proposal will not unreasonably impact upon the…..character of the surrounding area”.
I don’t believe the above proposed development will maintain or enhance, the existing, largely 1960’s and 1970’s façade and / or character of the local surrounding dwellings at all. It is more suited to more recently developed areas in the local community such as Bella Vista.
3. Andrew Minto also comments that his proposal will: “ ……………..as a result of increased residential population will create an increased demand for shops and services”.
Again I disagree with Andrew Minto’s assertions. In fact as a local family we are already competing for limited placements in our local Public Primary and High Schools. We are 20 year veteran residents of Winston Hills and still we have been directed to Northmead as our local High School. Additional housing with inherent increased residents will only serve to exacerbate this issue.
Additionally increased residents will NOT increase demand for additional shops and services. There already exists a situation where local retailers within the Winston Hills Mall are closing their doors after very short periods of time due to being unable to absorb the high rents required. Increased residents in this locale will simply place undue demand on those already available – including public transport infra-structure.
We regularly utilise the M2 buses and find the peak hour services in both directions are over-crowded and under serviced.
It is relevant to note at this point that Winston Hills is not planned to be covered by the currently under construction North West Rail Service – so we will simply be overloaded by additional strain on already existing services.
4. Andrew Minto also makes comment that: “It is my opinion that the proposed development is in the public interest as it will provide for an increase in the areas available housing stock”.
The Winston Hills local community is currently included in the touted Sydney Housing “Bubble” and are enjoying inflated sale prices as a direct result. Increasing the total number of housing stock available will only serve to reduce competition and ultimately lower housing prices.
5. Andrew Minto also readily admits his proposed development EXCEEDS the current 12 metre Building Height Control. A control he calls unreasonable and unnecessary.
I would greatly appreciate you acting in the best interests of the current Winston Hills residents in this instance. At the very least this proposed development requires further investigation and community collaboration before proceeding any further.
Yours Sincerely
Donna Loudoun.
A big no no......We don't want this development. Leave Winston Hills with the old charm and community as it is. We all just love it the way it is. Stop using the excuse to have affordable housing in the suburb. It will ruin the neighbourhood. Baulkham Hills, Seven Hills and North Parramatta have a lot of apartments and have destroyed the old suburban charm. Instead make it the Queen of suburbs with its rustic charm.
We agree wholeheartedly with previous comments made by our neighbours. Especially after receiving a copy of the "Residential Projects" issued on line by TGC, requesting would be buyers to register their interest, in the purchase of the proposed residential development.
We definitely say NO to such a project.
My Family & I are residents & property owners in Winston Hills. My Wife's Family moved into Winston Hills in 1966 when the suburb was known as 'Model Farms' so we have some attachment & history in the area.
We DO NOT agree with this proposal. We believe it will unjustly stress the the existing infrastructure which is ageing limited. There is no regard for maintaining the current lifestyle for which people moved into the area.
If we do some approximate calculations based on the proposed number of additional 102 residences there would be a minimum of :
200-400 additional people,
50-250 school pupils,
120-220 additional motor vehicles,
1000 kWHs p.a of energy required,
30 Megalitres p.a. of water required,
equivalent sewerage disposal required,
The current infrastructure will likely not support this without significant upgrading the cost of which will be likely largely bourne by the current residents in additional rates, etc.
The developer has no apparent offset in the proposal for any of this.
It would be a major blunder to allow this proposal to proceed.
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS APPLICATION TO BE APPROVED!!
Yes I know we are shouting, but we have been residents in Winston Hills for over 22 years now. What attracted us and why we continue to live in Winston Hills as it is one of the very few suburbs that DOES NOT have high density. And because we border Baulkham Hills and the Winston Hills Mall falls within your shire, you are now considering this application.
Unfortunately Baulkham Hills Council seems to have an agenda of creating chaos buy allowing so much unit development within your zone.
We lived for 20 years in Olympus Street, only 100 metres from the Winston Hills Mall & now live 2 streets away in Buckleys Road. We were very active in trying to stop the boom gates from going in and sure enough it has caused no amount of traffic congestion over peak periods. Considering we were told at the time (at least 10 years ago) that ALL the other shopping centres were going to install boom gates, they have not yet been installed at Castle Towers or Stockland Mall. At least Stockland Mall & Castle Towers have parking indicators above each parking space. We don’t even have this at Winston Hills Mall!
So our points below as to why we are so concerned of the impact this development have are as follows:
1. TRAFFIC – Caroline Chisholm Drive & Langdon Road are only single lane roads. We already have considerable traffic load trying to get into the shopping centre, let alone the impact of 102 dwellings and their possible use of vehicles.
2. Olympus Street (where we lived for 20 years) has major issues with parking on both sides, creating a situation of only allowing one car thru in either direction.
3. Winston Heights Primary School is only 100 metres from the Mall, with Model Farms High School 500 metres away. Even though it would be convenient for those living in the high rise, the primary issue again would be the amount of traffic flowing thru this area.
4. The application for 102 units with 137 car spaces, with the potential of more cars needing to park in surrounding streets, again creating congestion.
5. Winston Hills (as defined by Parramatta Council) http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/9095/Appendix_4.pdf was objected to having any high density due to the following:
• lack of infrastructure, public transport, services and facilities, and open space; will change the character of an area and will contribute to loss of neighbourhood cohesion; will create traffic congestion problems; loss of privacy and aesthetic appeal; will create environmental and social problems.
6. We understand that Baulkham Hills Council changed the zoning laws so that now the owners of the Winston Hills Mall cannot develop the existing roof area for restaurants. We only have the Winston Hills Gardens (Chinese restaurant) and the Winston Hills Hotel as the ONLY dining area in this precinct. We always travel to Bella Vista or Castle Hill to go to a decent restaurant. Why couldn’t the Mall be allowed to build restaurants on the top level?
Bottom Line is that we do not want to see high rise on this side of the M2. Keep it over your side please!!!!!
To whom it may concern,
As per the other concerned residents, we are against the proposal of adding units above Winston Hills Mall.
It will be a very obvious sore thumb introduced into a low density suburb.
Baulkham Hills and Castle HIll nearby, are succumbing to the high density mantra, with quite negative results already obvious, following in their trend to "catch on to the craze" will have negative consequence.
The value proposition for Winston Hills is that they are not high density, and the property values will maintain simply because of that fact, in contrast to the mess that is Baulkham and Castle Hills. Property values, and hence tax revenue will rise because of that contrast.
Please think very carefully before committing to something like this, it is a mistake.
Thanks,
Damien
As a resident if Winston Hills for over 6 years, I am saddened and disappointed in the proposed units.
I support refurbishment of the mall, however, hints above the mall will change the vibe and community of this unique and very welcoming area.
Only kilometers away from Sydney's next CBD busy parramatta, Winston hills is a haven, a friendly, slower paced, green and flourishing suburb.
Why you would want to detract. Winston hills strengths by doing this is beyond me, and many other residents.
Already I find it difficult to find a park at the mall on some weekends especially nearing public holidays. Also as my two children will be attending Winston heights p.s. In a couple of years, the danger of the excess traffic and vehicles parked outside the school concerns me greatly-enough that I'm researching other school alternatives. A shame as we've been excited about it since before we moved here.
Please, refurbish or add a shop or two. Not apartments.
You will lose great, quality community members that make this suburb the welcoming place it is today.
This will ruin everything we are proud of.
Alicia szoboszlay
I moved to Winston Hills 2 years ago, the main reason for wanting to live here was because there are no high rise units. It is a shame that this suburb may become a congested nightmare as a result of this development. I guess it comes down to lining the pockets of others and letting the locals pick up the pieces after, if they choose to stay.
You do not solve a housing shortage problem by developing in an area that is not capable of coping with the increased population.
Please don’t approve this development.
I have not met one person in Winston Hills yet who want this development to go up. It will change the community spirit of Winston Hills. As it is we have all the townhouses going up near to Winston Hills Mall and that will result in overcrowding, lack of parking and an increased crime rate no doubt.
I used to live in Westmead and had my car broken into several times. Also when people move out of units, they leave furniture on the pavement that they and nobody else wants.
The development will ruin what was a nice suburb. If this development occurs, I and several other people that I know will boycott Winston Hills Mall. It will be interesting to see the shops close down.
We also bought in Winston Hills 7 years ago and have our children attending the local catholic school. Our suburb is green and lush, well kept and with little to no crime. The pub is enough when you live on Caroline Chisholm Drive. We do not want these ugly concrete jungles in our suburb. We are not zoned for this and there is little to no public transport, there is a reason for this. The stores will suffer and then the residents so please developer take your units else where.
By the way you should not be selling off apartments before the proposal is approved and I note that the advertisement for the units went up on line well before approval process commenced. I always thought buying off the plans only took place once a development was approved. Your development is not approved and now you have to make changes and appeal. The residents of Winston Hills will continue to block this development. We all have years to keep this going.
My family has lived in Winston Hills for 35years ,my children have attended local primary and high schools ,and still reside in the area.As I see ,the proposed amendment differs little from the original proposal.Still three levels of units and one level of car parking,same height level ,same traffic congestion for the surrounding streets,same thought that this will "improve and enhance "our low density community.As you have previously witnessed ,we the residents of Winston Hills DO NOT WANT this development to be approved.Leave our charming ,family orientated community just as it is. If you approve one development the flood gates will be opened!
My wife and I moved into Winston Hills in 1972 and raised our family here. We have always loved the "village" atmosphere of the estate and the fact it is an oasis of residential peace and calm between the more commercial centres of Parramatta, Baulkham Hills and Blacktown with its purely relaxed and occupant friendly background.
If Council approve this development family the only winner will be the selfish developer who will then move onto another area and target once he has spoiled our neighbour hood. In all conscience you cannot allow the commercial interests of one party to ruin the life style of so many local family units and retirees.
I moved to Winston Hills 8 years ago and have always said thank goodness we belong to Parramatta council as they do not have high rise in this area not knowing of the ridiculous abnormally of one building being in Castle Hill council.
There is no infrastructure in place to allow these apartments to go ahead. Every afternoon at 3pm traffic for the next 2 hrs is bedlam.
Please do not let this development go ahead and spoil the village atmosphere that is Winston Hils
I have lived in Winston Hills for 26 years and loved every day of it. I say NO NO NO to this development plan.
Hi,
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY "NO" WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT
We have moved in Winston Hills for about 1 year and the main reason for us to choose this suburb is because there is no high rise department, which makes it a charm, peaceful area. The infrastructure is not designed for high density as all roads just have one lane. Childcare centers are overcrowded as I could not find a place for my daughter so I have to send her to a far away childcare center. Primary schools are also suffer as my son is going to kindy this year and teachers said they have to open one more class, with the same staffing, which create much pressure for them.
My husband takes bus to work everyday and said the buses are heavy load, sometimes no seat. I drive my kids to school everyday and there is often no parking near the school. Imagine what happen when we have few hundreds new comers.
In short, the suburb is only attractive as it is now. If you allow to build a high rise department, both old and new residents will not feel happy living here as they will have to compete hardly for very limited infrastructure and service resources. The only happy party is the developer with a full pocket of money.
So, please be thoughtful about this, your decision will affect so many people and their families.
Best regards,
Kate
