As most of you are well aware by now, the government-owned land around Cherrybrook Station was deemed a State Significant Precinct due to its "so-called" social and economic characteristics, particularly in relation to the provision of new housing and new jobs.

Landcom is working with Hornsby Shire Council and other stakeholders to prepare a rezoning application to enable a mixed-use precinct with shops, work spaces and homes, along with open space and recreation areas. The vacant land adjacent to Cherrybrook Station will be the focus of new development.

Under the proposed rezoning, development could include:

• a mix of uses including retail, residential, services and community space.
• about 600 new homes in buildings of around eight storeys in height to meet the needs of people with changing lifestyles and different income levels.
• high quality open space and recreation areas.
• a landscape character which reflects the surrounding area.
• new pedestrian and cycle paths.

PLEASE NOTE:

This is not an "anti-development petition", the purpose of this petition is to help Landcom and its stakeholders better understand that the current development proposal has over-looked some very important issues that MUST be addressed as "absolute minimums". Majority are issues that neither of Landcoms surveys and feedback forums have properly identified.

(PS. If there is anything that you feel I have missed please add to the comments section)

Landcoms current proposal needs to be refined to address the following issues: 

1. The buyer demand for apartments in this precinct is going to be extremely minimal based on the following key factors - (i) Proximity/visibility of the high tension tower/powerlines adjacent to the metro car park; (ii) Average heads p/household in Cherrybrook is 4, meaning the suburb is nowhere near geared for 8-storey apartments/600 dwellings of this nature; (iii) There has been no indicative price of what exactly 'affordable housing' will look like; (iv) The current proposal does nothing in the way of creating employment opportunities. 

2. Will these "proposed" apartments form part of the Cherrybrook Technology catchment (because they really shouldn't), and will surrounding streets be zoned out as a result. There is no clarity around this.

3. The only way this proposal has any chance of working is if powerlines are transferred underground and apartments are built on top of a retail hub (creating employment opportunities, primarily food retail, as well as a gym) with the pond integrated around this setup to create a serene setting when dining at restaurants/cafes; (i) Parking issues are addressed; (ii) The existing community centre at Greenway Park is upgraded and integrated with a library as opposed to trying to cram it in on that site. (iii) Guarantee that a reputable developer is used to build the dwellings, as people have rightfully lost trust in building standards across NSW. (iv) There would also have to be a series of 3 bedroom apartments, with garden terraces on offer. Two bedroom apartments and under are in extremely low demand and do not fit our suburbs demographic, nor will it in the foreseeable future - that's fact, not fiction!

4. Create a space that offers townhouse/villas for those that want a garden, in particular our dear elderly who would love to stay and downsize in Cherrybrook, however are restricted for options. Also imperative that traffic congestion is not overlooked for that region of Cherrybrook in fairness to our existing residents.

5. I'm not sure if any research has been done around this, however I'm inclined to think that those that live in apartments are the sector that are sadly likely to suffer most as a form of mental illness due to the confinement of space and lack of social interaction, no pets wouldn't help the cause either.

- This development needs to be thought out "strategically" as opposed to a generic "one size fits all approach", which has created a massive oversupply of apartments across Sydney. With Landcoms current proposal, this site has NO CHANCE of working, and I say that with all due respect and no ill feelings. Unless points 1,2,3 and 4 illustrated above are adequately addressed as absolute minimums to our community the development of Cherrybrook Station should not proceed.

If you agree with the above changes then please sign and share this petition, (and please don't forget to share your comments).