Redbank Voluntary Planning Agreement 2014

The NRDCAA Committee of Management is very disappointed that Council approved the Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) for Redbank at the Council meeting on 1/7/2014.

How our Councillors voted:
For: Ford, Tree, Conolly, Creed, Porter, Mackay and Reardon
Against:  Calvert, Lyons-Buckett, Paine, Williams. 
Did not participate Rasmussen, conflict of interest

The community rightly ask the question why Council would enter into an agreement that is vague, leans towards the Developer and lacks transparency and clear detail if it has the interest of the community at the heart of their decision making powers.

Clearly the majority of Councillors don’t.

The VPA does not provide certainty that a bridge can or will be built at Navua, nor does the NRDCAA support a bridge across two popular Reserves at Navua and Yarramundi.

Many residents have been misled into believing that a bridge will be built.

How many residents and ratepayers are aware the proposed bridge at Navua has a five tonne load limit?

The community will not know whether a bridge will be built or not, till the Subdivision Certificate for the creation of the 461st urban lot or such later date as agreed between the parties, ie the Council, RMS and the Developer.

By that time the traffic congestion will be unbearable.

What will we do then? In frustration, hop out of our cars and leave them?

Already a provider of disability services report cost increases due to excessive traffic congestion causing a blow out in cost, when transporting disabled youngsters to and from school.

The NRDCAA called for the Bridge to be approved prior to any urban lots subdivision certificates being issued. The majority of Councillors ignored the request.

The Developer and Council claim $55 million will be spent on infrastructure, but only about $29 million is identifiable and guaranteed in the VPA.

We also called for the Council to have finishing dates on the upgrading of the intersections between Richmond and North Richmond to no avail.

The NRDCAA sought an urgent meeting with Councillor Ford Mayor of HCC and Councillor Tree Deputy Mayor prior to the Council meeting. That request was rejected.

The community deserves better from the leaders of Council. The community west of the river have lost confidence in our leaders. They seem to represent a political party rather than the interest of residents and ratepayers of the Hawkesbury.

The NRDCAA thanks Councillors Calvert, Lyons- Buckett, Paine, Rasmussen and Williams for their support of the community and our endeavours.

The struggle is not over yet.

Authorised by the CoM NRDCAA 5 07 2014.

Council Meeting 1 July, 2014 - Voluntary Planning Application (VPA) for Rebank development

The council meeting on 24/7/14 was suspended when five councillors walked out mid-way through, after Mayor Ford refused to allow Councillor Williams to speak out against the VPA. The advantage here is that the Voluntary Planning Application (VPA) now needs to go up in front of Council again. The community has another chance to let its feelings be known.

The community attendance at the meeting was not great. We appreciate you have lives, we can’t help but wonder if the bulk of you simply hoped there would be enough “others” to communicate community opinion? We also appreciate that many of you feel jaded after attending other rallies and seeing how little our voice seems to count to Council. We all feel jaded.

The VPA examines what the developer proposes to provide by way of infrastructure with the Redbank development at Grose Vale. That development, for those new to this page, has been approved and will create 1400 new home sites in Grose Vale Road. In conjunction with the over-55s village already onsite, this will result in around 3000 more cars per day on the roads in and around North Richmond, including on the already congested access across the river.

The developer proposes to do nothing to rectify this until several hundred new homes have been built. In layman’s terms this means that absolutely nothing is already investigated or guaranteed and we would not see anything even CONSIDERED until at least 2017. Three more years of ever increasing traffic jams people. THEN, they will need to go through planning, environmental studies and other due diligence. Estimations and timings raised at the council meeting are they would not have alternative river for a long time off, if at all. 

The suggested alternative route across the river is not to widen to North Richmond Bridge but to create a new bridge in Navua Reserve in Grose Wold and cut across to Castlereagh Road…This is not investigated in any way, shape or form for feasibility. Should this solution not go ahead (and many say it won’t), then the developer is under no obligation to deliver any solution at all, but instead will provide Hawkesbury Council or RMS with $23m for roads and infrastructure.

Four Councillors – Paine, Lyons-Buckett, Williams, Calvert are proposing the Developer should provide an infrastructure solution prior to building the 1400 new homes. One Councillor (Rasmussen) is abstaining due to pecuniary interest.

Despite 4,500 petition signatures and around 300 submissions against development without infrastructure first, seven councillors still don’t understand what an issue the traffic is to this community.

Make no mistake, as they form the majority, the seven remaining councillors: Ford, Porter, Connolly, Creed, Tree, Mackay and Reardon will support the developer's VPA to do nothing until somewhere between 400-800 houses have been built (that number still to be determined).

The only hope we have to make them reconsider (even if it is to question their chance of re-election) is to turn up next Tuesday 1 July at 6:30pm at Council.

ACTION FOR YOU: Jaded or not, We really urge you to find a couple of hours to come along to Council meeting NEXT Tuesday 1 July (366 George St Windsor) and let them see how you feel. You have a week’s notice to get a babysitter, try to slip away from work early or whatever has kept you from coming until now. It doesn’t matter if you are a couple of minutes late. Tell your neighbours. Tell your friends. Copy this post and email it to those not on Facebook. Show Council how important this traffic issue is to this community. Please give some indication if you will be coming. This truly seems to be your last chance to have a say!

Council Meeting 26 November 2013 - Rescission Motion

Fellow Members and Friends of the Hawkesbury, there has been a Rescission Motion lodged by non-Liberal Councillors- it is an attempt to have the ridiculous decision of the last HCC meeting overturned regarding the development at North Richmond. Please attend and show your support for the Councillors who are supporting the community. Council Chambers ,George Street, Windsor, Tuesday 26^th November 2013.The meeting usually starts at 6:30pm and entry is usually available from about 6:15pm but if the developers stack the meeting again and prevent residents and ratepayers from attending it may be difficult to gain entry so it may be best to arrive as early as you can.

You may have read letters in the Gazette from the developer and those who will profit at your expense insulting the community and making false statements about members of the community. I think it says much about the people who are prepared to lie and denigrate honest people who are merely trying to have the people who are being paid to represent them do what they are paid to do.

Please encourage your family, friends and neighbours to come along. We have had little notice of this so have not been able publicise it widely, so it is up to you.

AGM - 18 November, 2013

Fellow Members and friends of the Hawkesbury that the Annual General Meeting of the NRDCAA is to be held Monday 18^thNovember 2013 at7:15pm at the North Richmond Community Centre, William Street, North Richmond.

Please consider standing for a position on the Committee of Management- many hands make light work.

Positions will be declared vacant and nominations taken from the floor. If you can’t attend and would like a Proxy form please email me and I will email one to you.

If you are not currently a member then please come along and join and help your community have a stronger voice in it’s future. We are NON PARTY POLITICALas our existing members can attest - we simply support and promote the concerns and interests of the Hawkesbury as expressed to us by our members.

Colleen Turnbull

Secretary

Council Meeting - Rezoning of Rebank at North Richmond - 12/11/13 6.30pm

REZONING - REBANK NORTH RICHMOND

·         1,399 additional houses (1,200 houses now)
·         2,800 + additional vehicles
·         Traffic congestion increases
·         Developers contribution $28 million
·         No plans drawn up and costings for proposed second crossing at Navau Reserve
·         No bridge improvement discussions until 500 dwellings approved
·         If plans rejected, what then?
·         RMS estimate infrastructure costs estimated to be over $100 million

SHORTFALL $72 MILLION

·         State Government have stated they will not contribute
·         Hawkesbury City Council do not have the funds
·         Who will pay?

NO BUDGET = NO APPROVAL

Come and support your community against this inappropriate development

Tuesday 12 November, 2013 at 6.30pm

Council Chambers

George Street

Windsor

Meeting 16th September, 2013

7.15pm

North Richmond Community Centre

William Street

North Richmond

We will discuss Council's decision that Council Officers will liaise with those who made submissions on Redbank and Jacaranda Ponds, prior to the Planning Proposals being determined by Council. If you an have issue come along and share your concerns to see if a collective approach could help. All are welcome. 

Michael Want

Petition 2011 - Do not approve any rezoning west of the river

Please support this petition by asking Hawkesbury City Council:

Do not approve any rezoning west of the river

The petition will also be sent to:
Duncan Gay, State Minister for Roads
Brad Hazzard, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure

TO SIGN THE PETITION CLICK HERE
TO VIEW COMMENTS FROM PETITIONERS CLICK HERE

If you would like to help the committee collect signatures on a hardcopy you can download it here.

As at 6/7/13 the following have contributed to the petition:

 
Online 645

Hardcopy 3,588

Total 4,233