Parra News April 2 2024
April 2 2024 edition of Parra News.
April 2 2024 edition of Parra News.
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LOCAL NEWS<br />
What will the future hold?<br />
Residents fear Westmead South will lose its identity if 6,600 new homes are built<br />
ELLIE BUSBY<br />
A<br />
draft masterplan for Westmead<br />
South could deliver thousands of new<br />
homes, but residents are concerned it<br />
will ruin the close-knit community.<br />
A planning proposal for 6,600 new homes<br />
near the train station and future Westmead<br />
Metro Station intends to turn Westmead<br />
South into “one of the best connected places<br />
in Sydney”.<br />
But some locals believe it will have a negative<br />
impact on the community they love.<br />
At the latest Extraordinary Cumberland<br />
Local Planning Panel, over 20 residents spoke<br />
out against the proposal, including local<br />
Nalinie Aiyelana.<br />
“The current Council proposal will create an<br />
increase of traffic, congestion, pollution in the<br />
small Westmead South residential area,” she<br />
said.<br />
Safa Majidi, a Westmead South resident<br />
of 13 years, fears the extraordinary level of<br />
community cohesion will be impacted by the<br />
proposed increase in housing density.<br />
“This unique character will be significantly<br />
impacted by the plan to increase medium and<br />
high-density housing,” she said.<br />
“We know that high density developments<br />
often lead to a loss of neighbourhood identity,<br />
which can negatively impact the residents’<br />
sense of belonging and wellbeing, and<br />
compromise quality of life.”<br />
The masterplanned area sits on the south<br />
side of the Railway Corridor, bound by Alexandra<br />
Avenue to the north, Bridge Road to the<br />
west, Great Western Highway to the south,<br />
and Good Street/Mays Hill Precinct to the<br />
east.<br />
According to Cumberland Council papers,<br />
significant investment into public transport<br />
and the transformation of Westmead into<br />
a major health, education and innovation<br />
precinct, provides “impetus for renewal”<br />
within Westmead South.<br />
Under the proposal, residential buildings<br />
would range from eight to 25-storeys, with the<br />
maximum building height to be concentrated<br />
close to public transport stations. It will see a<br />
large part of the suburb re-zoned to high and<br />
medium density residential.<br />
A corridor planned along Hawkesbury Road<br />
would link the two key activity nodes at the<br />
future Westmead Metro Station and the Oakes<br />
Centre – turning the car-dominant thoroughfare<br />
into a ‘high street’ that prioritises active<br />
transport.<br />
Community facilities and new open spaces<br />
are planned, including two new civic plazas<br />
on the Metro Station site and in front of the<br />
Oakes Centre. Open space at a minimum<br />
size of 3,000sqm will also be provided along<br />
Alexandra Avenue together with a commuter<br />
car park.<br />
A Heritage Conservation Area has also been<br />
recommended to be established bound by<br />
Toohey Avenue, Gowrie Crescent, MJ Bennet<br />
Reserve, the south side of Nolan Crescent,<br />
Hawkesbury Road and Austral Avenue.<br />
Peter Alvarez, who spoke on behalf of two<br />
residents, warned the draft proposal in its<br />
current form would have a significant effect<br />
on Westmead South.<br />
“The Westmead South of today will be<br />
very different to the Westmead South of the<br />
future,” he said.<br />
“So what you are in fact planning is a city, not<br />
a suburb.”<br />
19-year-old Bhumika Chauhan spoke about<br />
how the Westmead South provide friendship<br />
to people who feel lonely, particularly migrant<br />
families. She worries this could be lost.<br />
“As migrant families, we experience isolation,<br />
awkwardness and confusion when we<br />
come to this country. We long for community,”<br />
she said.<br />
“If our homes were to be replaced by<br />
multi-storey buildings, I worry that the existing<br />
community will struggle to thrive and<br />
social cohesion will deteriorate.”<br />
Following the meeting, the Cumberland<br />
Local Planning Panel confirmed they<br />
endorsed the proposal.<br />
This means it will now be recommended to<br />
Council that the Westmead South Planning<br />
Proposal be forwarded to the Department of<br />
Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for a<br />
Gateway Determination.<br />
The Oakes Centre in Westmead South.<br />
Artist’s impression of the proposed Westmead<br />
Metro Station Plaza.<br />
Photo: Architectus.<br />
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Tuesday, <strong>April</strong> 2, <strong>2024</strong> « parra news 3