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Parra News April 2 2024

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

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