With the tidal wave of development that is being thrust upon Western Sydney, Penrith is set to be transformed into a mecca for high rise units and further overdevelopment, placing even more pressure on local infrastructure that is already crippling under the weight of increased development and poor planning.  

In December 2018, it was projected that Penrith alone would see 3763 additional unit projects underway, adding 34.7 per cent more apartments to the area.

Twelve months on and Penrith’s skyline and rural landscape is set to dramatically change if Urban Property Group’s recent Development Application recently submitted to Penrith City Council is approved. The 46 story monstrosity which is being proposed to be built on the vacant land at 614-632 High Street Penrith, opposite the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, will house 318 residential units, 1500sqm of commercial and retail space with only 348 parking spaces adding to the existing strain on parking spaces and traffic congestion in and around the local area. It's ludicrous and it must to be stopped.

As we all know, in the last few years Penrith has experienced sweltering summers with temperatures reaching up to 48 degrees. The council has identified that open spaces and trees are vital if we hope to cool Penrith, yet we continue to see DA approvals for large scale projects, with little to no advocacy for the ratepayer from our council.

As stated in their 2017-2021 Council Delivery Program "Penrith has been experiencing significant growth which acts to increase the impact of the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect occurs when development replaces natural land surfaces and vegetation with hard structures like roads, buildings and footpaths". Yet despite this, rather than planting more trees, preserving more green spaces, and Penrith Council plans to assist in the demolition of our precious and limited green space in order to install more heat raising infrastructure. 

While the approval process for Development Applications now rests with state government, unless the cat got Penrith City Council's tongue, it can and should begin to address this issue and its ratepayers. Independent of the state’s power grab, with 15 councillors elected with the sole mandate to engage with and represent locals and their issues, there is no better body to raise these objects with. Council can then in turn raise it with the Greater Sydney Commission, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, and Penrith State MP Stuart Ayres collectively and more efficiently.