Summary:

This is a petition from the residents of Wentworth Point to the City of Parramatta Councillors. Our aims are to:

1. Request that Council SUPPORT the rescission motion Item 11.1 at Council’s meeting on 26th September 2022. (Subject: Item 13.4 - Proposed Homebush Bay West Development Control Plan Amendment and draft Planning Agreement for Block H, Precinct B, 16 Burroway Road and part 5 Footbridge Boulevard, Wentworth Point.
   
   
2. Request that Council SUPPORT part (b) of the staff recommendation in the original motion on 12th September 2022 and REFUSE the proposed amendment to the Homebush Bay West Development Control Plan for Block H, Precinct B, 16 Burroway Road and part 5 Footbridge Boulevard. (Refuse 50 Storeys and 85,000sqm Gross Floor Area)
   
   
3. Request that Council respect the results of the public exhibition where 64% residents opposed the proposed DCP amendment and SUPPORT the community’s demand for the current DCP controls to remain unchanged at a maximum of 25 storeys in height and 29,743sqm Gross Floor Area (GFA) with minimum 10,973sqm of public open space.

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Dear Lord Mayor and City of Parramatta Councillors,

Re: Rescission motion for Block H on 26th September 2022 and Community’s demand for current DCP controls to remain unchanged.

We are writing regarding the above mentioned subject and ask Councillors to support the rescission motion for Block H item 11.1 at its meeting on 26th September 2022. We also request that Councillors respect the outcomes of the public exhibition by refusing the proposed DCP amendment and support the community’s demand for current DCP controls to remain unchanged at maximum 25 storeys in height, 29,743sqm GFA, and minimum 10,973sqm of public open space.

In late 2020, residents voted against 50 storeys and 85,000sqm GFA (Gross Floor Area), results of the public exhibition were overwhelmingly clear where 64% of residents objected to the proposal out of 763 submissions.

Assessment of the proposal and outcome of the public exhibition were presented to council for a decision during its meeting on the12th September (item 13.4).

Based on the exhibition results, council planning officers recommended council to REFUSE the proposed DCP amendments (that means to refuse 50 storeys/85,000sqm GFA/997 dwellings).

However, two of our Ward Councillors moved and seconded an amended motion that fails to respect the evidence presented in the exhibition results, and instead, left the door open for the developer to come back with a ‘revised scheme’ for two 45 storeys and the same 85,000sqm GFA.

The top three reasons why residents objected was Height, Density and Traffic.

The developer’s ‘revised scheme’ (2x45 storeys & 85,000sqm GFA) does nothing to address issues concerning height and density. Regarding traffic, Council staff’s assessment report stated that “the strategic road network surrounding Wentworth Point is at capacity.” Therefore, it is ridiculous to suggest that further assessment is required for the developer’s ‘revised scheme’.

Today in September 2022, PLR Stage 2 is a big question mark that it will ever be funded or completed in its’ entirety within the timeframe promised, and the recent news that stage 1 is to be delayed till May 2024 is just another blow for residents and businesses.

Metro West will be completed in 2030 but we can only hope there would be no delays. Australia Ave upgrade and continued provision of public bus services (not temporary developer funded shuttles) to Rhodes Station are in the talks but no construction or timeframe is provided so far.

Council staff confirmed in its' assessment report that the developer’s revised scheme (attachment 7 of council business papers 12/09) remains “largely the same as the exhibited DCP amendment. Therefore, the revised scheme is included for information only.” Council planning staff refused/rejected the developer’s revised scheme from the get go so why are Councillors requesting the developer to provide further reports to enable the developer’s revised scheme for another public exhibition? The Ward Councillor who moved this amended motion provides no evidence to justify that the community supports this amendment.

This amendment is AGAINST community wishes as evidenced in the public exhibition results. It is NOT supported by council planning staff and residents are furious as to why this amendment was proposed without any consultation with the community.

Given all the evidence against uplift, the Wentworth Point community would like to know why those Councillors who supported the developer’s revised scheme for further assessment and re-exhibition did so against the public exhibition results and against community feedback.

Under the Local Government Act 1993 (The Act), Council has an obligation to explain and be answerable for the consequences of the decisions made on behalf of the community. As laid out on the City of Parramatta website, the Act stipulates that “the community and stakeholders should be able to follow and understand our decision-making process.This means they will be able to clearly see how and why a decision was made, what information, advice and consultation Council considered, and which legislative requirements Council followed.”

The community invokes our rights under The Act to ask Council to explain their decisions and provide evidence for endorsing the amended motion moved by Cr Paul Noack. This endorsement was made AGAINST community wishes as evidenced in the public exhibition results, and is NOT supported by council planning staff.

In summary, we firmly request that Council vote in support of the community’s request in the upcoming council meeting on 26th September 2022 and:

1. SUPPORT the rescission motion for item 11.1
2. REFUSE the proposed DCP amendments (50 storeys & 85,000GFA) as recommended by council staff and,
3. SUPPORT the community’s demand for the current DCP controls to remain unchanged at maximum 25 storeys, 29,743sqm GFA with 10,743sqm of public open space.
    

Sincerely,

The Residents of Wentworth Point

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References

• Council business papers agenda 12/09 https://businesspapers.parracity.nsw.gov.au/Open/2022/09/OC_12092022_AGN_733_AT_WEB.htm
• Council supplementary papers 12/09 https://businesspapers.parracity.nsw.gov.au/Open/2022/09/OC_12092022_AGN_733_AT_SUP_11059_11060_11062_WEB.htm
• Council minutes 12/09 https://businesspapers.parracity.nsw.gov.au/Open/2022/09/OC_12092022_MIN_733_WEB.htm
• Council business papers agenda 26/09 https://businesspapers.parracity.nsw.gov.au/Open/2022/09/OC_26092022_AGN_734_AT_WEB.htm

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If you oppose over-development and would like to to support the community campaign. This is what you can do to help:

1. Sign this petition and share it with friends and family, we only have till Monday 26/09 and we need as many people as we can get.
2. Email Councillors and tell them what you want! Copy and paste email addresses below.
   To: 
   lordmayor@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   pesber@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   mgarrard@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   kdarley@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   lwearne@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   cmaclean@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   ahumphries@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   gvaljak@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   dwang@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   spandey@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   hgreen@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   pbradley@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   pprociv@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   dsiviero@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   pnoack@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   council@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   dbirds@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
   
   
3. Come and join us at the next council meeting on 26/09/2022 @6pm St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta
4. Join the Block H Facebook Group for further readings and discussion. https://www.facebook.com/groups/blockhwwp/?ref=share_group_link