Three new Urban Activation Precincts will be developed along the North West Rail Link as part of a major urban renewal program.
Planning minister Pru Goward announced the state government will undertake detailed planning, investigations and consultation for three precincts around the new Bella Vista, Kellyville and Showground railway stations,
It follows the release of the North West Rail Link Corridor Strategy last year.
Broad plans outlined the vision for each precinct and identified the potential across the three precincts for up to 19,000 jobs and 12,000 homes, with a mix of housing types including townhouses, detached homes and apartments.
More than 100,000 additional people are projected to live in the Hills area by 2031.
''These precincts will receive up to $15 million in NSW Government funding for local infrastructure, as well as millions of dollars of private sector investment, which will benefit both existing residents and those who will make the neighbourhoods home in the future,'' Ms Goward said.
''This is a really exciting opportunity for the community to be at the heart of decision making about the future of their neighbourhood.''
Key features of the proposed Urban Activation Precincts include:
Bella Vista: A mixed employment and residential precinct with capacity for up to 4,400 additional homes and 10,500 jobs across 472 hectares.
The precinct will build on existing office and warehouse space with shops, cafes and restaurants near the new station. Public parks and streets will be improved and Bella Vista Farm will remain a key conservation and heritage area.
Kellyville: A centre focused around the new station providing greater choice for people with different housing needs.
The precinct has capacity for up to 4400 new homes and 800 jobs with the majority of new development proposed to be concentrated close to the new station.
The precinct will feature conservation areas to protect endangered species, and enhanced walkways and cycle routes between the station and nearby centres.
Showground: A mixed use precinct with shops, cafes, restaurants and new office buildings centred around the new station.
The precinct has capacity for up to 3,600 new homes and 7,700 jobs across 271 hectares.
A green corridor will be maintained around Cattai Creek and Castle Hill Showground will be upgraded as an essential recreational space for the community.
The Hills Council Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne said the council had recognised the importance of the plans by voting unanimously for inclusion in the government Urban Activation Precinct program.
''The rezoning of these three precincts will pave the way for the investment the northwest has been crying out for, delivering modern facilities for the benefit of the entire community and allowing young families to live and work in the area they have grown up in,'' she said.
Experts will carry out detailed studies into particular aspects of the investigations, such as traffic and parking, flooding and drainage, ecology and heritage.
The community will have the chance to be involved in planning for the precinct and complete an online survey.
There will also be a formal public exhibition of the overall vision for each precinct, proposed land uses, public spaces and parks, walking and cycling links and restrictions on building heights and size.
Details: planning.nsw.gov.au/urbanactivation.
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