Kurmond development closer as DA passes Hawkebsury Council

Council discussed the DA at the November 24 Council meeting. Montgomery Planning Solutions had submitted the revised DA after Council previously asked it to investigate ways to reduce environmental impacts at the development site.

Council voted 7-4 to approve the revised application, with Cr Mary Lyons-Buckett absent from the vote, but not the debate.

The proposal for 32 houses to be built on the site at Kurmond would see the developer donate $30,000 to Council for infrastructure via a voluntary planning agreement. The proposal will be on display now for 28 days.

Cr Paul Rasmussen voted against the DA, and questioned the direction the Hawkesbury was headed.

“Our major thrust is we want to keep the Hawkesbury rural and we don't want to turn it into the high rises at The Hills,” he said.

“We aren't turning it into high rises but we are busy carving up our rural lands.”

He also questioned why the development was going ahead at all, given the traffic problems west of the river.

“We will not get a better or bigger bridge across North Richmond,” he said.

“It is simply adding to the burden and agony of people trying to get to and from work.”

Cr Barry Calvert also said if development west of the river was to occur, it should be preceded by improvements to the roads infrastructure.

“I am impressed with the new development and it is moving in the right direction,” he said. “The potential for roadwork and road improvement is there in the development.

“But what we will do is put some money in a large bucket and somewhere down the road there will be works. I would like to see what the road works are before they go ahead; I think we are putting the cart before the horse.”

The voluntary planning agreement is yet to be finalised, however the current proposal is for the developer to donate $30,000 per lot to Council, which Council will then use to build infrastructure.