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State Government requirements
In December 2005 the State Government released its Metropolitan Strategy which outlined new dwelling targets throughout Sydney. The draft North Subregional Strategy was subsequently released by the Department of Planning, identifying that Hornsby Shire must provide 11,000 dwellings by 2031. Do you have any comments on the State Government documents?
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Relates to website: http://www.metrostrategy.nsw.gov.au
Comment 1 14 Mar 2010, 11:17 AM
Build concentrations of people near centres of employment, not in far-flung areas of the city, so we can save on infrastructure costs.
Comment 1.1 20 Apr 2010, 8:06 PM
Been in the infrastructure sector for over forty years and I agree completely with you.
Comment 1.1.1 20 Apr 2010, 9:35 PM
Hornsby as a major centre will attract increasingly greater numbers of employment opportunities. Therefore, you would not be putting concentrations of people in far-flung areas of the city and will as a result save on infrastructure costs.
Comment 1.1.1.1 22 Apr 2010, 9:38 PM
Increasingly greater numbers of employment opportunities? Like where, and how many?
Comment 2 16 Mar 2010, 10:30 AM
Residents and Council should have this discussion on housing but Council should take more time to do research and more feedback directly by door-knocking residents affected by your strategy.
Council should not finalise any strategy until well after next year state election when we all have a clearer idea on who governs and their policies on planning. Also, wait until we know the outcome from State Government about South Dural, if approved there could be 3000+ new dwellings and therefore no need for this housing strategy. New housing can also be created along the North West Rail Link corridor.
Comment 2.1 20 Mar 2010, 9:08 AM
It would be nice if council could delay the strategy till after the election but as i understand it they have state government deadlines to meet as part of a signed agreement, otherwise the state can come in and finish the strategy for them.
Comment 2.1.1 20 Mar 2010, 11:37 AM
Then they should request an extension shouldn't they, rather than make decisions based on incomplete information?
Comment 2.1.1.1 24 Mar 2010, 12:14 PM
Strongly agree
Comment 2.1.2 11 Apr 2010, 1:31 PM
Bob007,
Arrange a public meeting, pass the hat around, go to court and get an injunction until after the state election. I am sure the local member, Judy Hopwood would help with this.
Comment 2.1.3 20 Apr 2010, 8:11 PM
I have not seen a policy on how the opposition is going to supply the extra housing for our children or are we that selfish we do not care?
Comment 3 16 Mar 2010, 10:40 AM
Areas recommend for new housing:
1. Epping
2. Pacific Highway (Wahroonga, Waitara, Hornsby Westside, Berowra).
3. Pennant Hills Road (Normanhurst, Thornleigh, Pennant Hills)
4. Beecroft Road
Comment 3.1 24 Mar 2010, 8:57 PM
Why dump more people onto an already congested Beecroft Road?
Comment 3.2 28 Mar 2010, 4:57 PM
I agree, it is because there are train stations available to take more load for commutors.
Comment 4 16 Mar 2010, 10:47 AM
Why is Epping not mentioned in this housing strategy?
Why can't we rezone Epping Town Centre for 15 stories or even higher?
Epping is more appropriate than Hornsby due to its close proximity to the city, Macquarie Uni, Macquarie Park and Chatswood where employment centres are plus new Chatswood to Epping Rail Line. Also, Cityrail are preparing to build North West Rail Link to Epping.
Comment 4.1 16 Mar 2010, 2:50 PM
Epping is apparently the focus of a separate strategy. There will however be increased higher density housing there too.
Comment 4.1.1 20 Apr 2010, 7:53 PM
Epping is covered by Hornsby, Parramatta & Ryde councils.So it makes it a bit of a mess with planning.
Comment 4.2 16 Mar 2010, 8:50 PM
I would suggest that the people in Epping living in houses or units would also not want 15 stories or higher near their place. But you are probably talking about the shops on the west side which definitely need redevelopment, and apartments could be built on top of those with little impact to others. Then again I think you'll find they are not in Hornsby Shire and so we wouldn't get any benefit (another one of the problems, state government thinks primarily in terms of council areas and doles out the required numbers accordingly, rather than solely looking at other factors such as transport corridors and employment centres).
Comment 4.2.1 19 Mar 2010, 6:15 PM
Epping is the subject of a separate study. Both Hornsby and Parramatta councils will be involved as both LGAs are affected.
Comment 4.2.2 20 Mar 2010, 4:57 PM
Soon even politicians (they are slow learners)will understand that Sydney cannot support 6 to 7 million people.
If immigration was reduced to virtually zero this whole problem would go away as the older citizens die their homes will become available for the younger as the natural birth rate of less than two per woman will just about balance.
You have both State and Federal elections coming to make sure the politicians understand.
Comment 4.2.2.1 23 Mar 2010, 1:59 PM
You must still complain to Council first as there is no guarantee. Do not wait for something which Pack assumes will happen, which may not happen.
Comment 4.2.2.2 20 Apr 2010, 8:26 PM
What happened to the one for the Nation? Immigration at acceptable levels would have been more acceptable as it does not increase the overall World population & can supply us with the shortage of skills that we are in short supply of.Complex problem and needs further informed debate.
Comment 4.2.2.2.1 24 Apr 2010, 4:19 PM
GeorgeW, There is no shortage of labour just a shortage of people prepared to work for below average wages.
Comment 4.3 20 Mar 2010, 11:43 PM
it may have the rail link and closer to the city, but besides a coles supermarket and a definite lack of parking there isn't much reason to have it at epping, unless infracture is changed. If the NW train link is ever built it maybe adifferent situation. Also the epping to Parramatta link.
Agood bus service would be helpful.
Comment 4.3.1 22 Apr 2010, 10:34 PM
Its been a while since I caught the bus from Epping to Club Mac and realise that things have changed with the new rail service via the uni but I recall it had a good bus stop and adequate services into the city.
Comment 4.3.2 24 Apr 2010, 6:23 PM
It already has a good bus service! Seriously how can anyone complain about the amount of public transport available in Epping, particularly when compared to other areas of Hornsby Shire?
Comment 5 23 Mar 2010, 8:57 AM
State Governments Metro Strategy classifies Asquith as a Village. It also defines a village as having between 2,100 to 5,500 dwellings with strategic bus, local bus and sometimes ferry services.
Based on this, one third of the 2600 new dwellings for the whole Shire are planned for Asquith and a further fifth on its borders. This means a total of around one half all new dwellings planned for the whole Shire are in Asquith or on its doorstep.
However, Asquith only has around 1,150 dwellings and only street bus pickup. It has a small station on one train line, the same size as other precincts classified as small villages or neighborhoods centres.
As a village, Asquith is grouped with Beecroft, Cherrybrook, Pennant Hills, Thornleigh & Waitara with populations around 6,800 to 18,500 people (2,400 to 6,100 dwellings). However, Asquith has only around 3,000 residents (1,150 dwellings).
Clearly, Asquith is not a village. It does not satisfy the State Govt’s village criteria and is much smaller than other villages it is grouped with.
Comment 6 28 Mar 2010, 12:54 PM
The reason why we have this Housing Strategy is to share the load due to increase in population. We should all work together and not against each other to fight against over-development.
I found it hard to believe residents from Normanhurst and North of Hornsby form groups to protest aginst any development and shift it to other areas like Hornsby, Waitara, and Carlingford which they already have the most high density in the Shire.
If you are so vocal against 3 and 5 storey developments, why are you so quiet and not fight against 20 storeys in Hornsby? It just seems you are not doing this for the good of the Shire but for youselfs - not in my backyard syndrome.
So let's all work together to fight against over-development in the Shire.
Comment 7 29 Mar 2010, 12:03 PM
Just heard on Ross Greenwood’s morning report that the Australian Government opened the housing market to unrestricted foreign investment during the financial crisis last year.
Increasing access to foreign investors further reduces housing supply and forces prices up for Australian residents. It also means more taxes, stamp duty etc for the Government.
We are told there is a housing shortage for Australian residents and so we must be swamped with high rises, even though the overwhelming majority of residents is against these. So why did the government further contribute to this housing shortage by expanding the market to include overseas investors?
If the government was really concerned about housing the residents it would not be making the problem worse.
Comment 7.1 29 Mar 2010, 12:12 PM
I would imagine that the investment housing market for foreign investors still provides housing for locals except that it is in the form of rental accommodation rather than owner occupied. There is a need for both types of housing.
Unfortunately, the profits from renting out these investment properties does not remain in the country. Whether it is overseas investment or local investment, too much of it will always push the prices up.
Comment 7.1.1 20 Apr 2010, 8:38 PM
Its a media beat up.We tax payers thro negative gearing pay for most of the units in the market.8 billion dollars and climbing.May be tax breaks on mortgages like the UK would be a better option.
Comment 7.2 8 Apr 2010, 1:43 PM
I agree. I am trying to buy a house in the area and even though we are offering 50,000 over the asking price there is always someone with more money. Often on the other end of a mobile phone.
Comment 8 7 Apr 2010, 3:16 PM
I went along to one of their drop in community session and was told by a Council staff that all precincts will have to be voted on and finalised by end of June 2010 as per agreement with NSW Planning Department.
Exactly why are we rushing this Housing Strategy when NSW Planning Department will not officially finalise rezoning until June 2011?
That's a year away, by then we will have a new State Government with different planning policies. We should wait until we have a clear idea of who governs and their policies instead of rushing it through with lack of transparency and consultations with affected residents.
Comment 9 14 Apr 2010, 3:33 PM
2009 Housing Strategy is far better and fairer than the amended 2010 Housing Strategy. The 2010 strategy affects lots more residents and precincts than the original proposal for last year. The 2010 version shouldn't be call amended as it is substantially different to 2009 version. Council should provide a 3rd public exhibition period after next year State Election (if Liberals still want this Strategy to go ahead) as residents from from the 2009 proposal have 2 chances to voice their opinions whereas the residents affected by the 2010 version and not the 2009 version have only 1 chance.