Showground Station precinct rezoning update
The Showground Station precinct has recently been rezoned. The redevelopment will transform the area around Showground Station into a vibrant urban centre, deliver nearly two hectares of parks and open space, and provide community facilities, recreation areas and a mix of housing choice for people at all life stages.
The new precinct will provide around 2,300 new jobs over the next 20 years, harnessing the benefits of the $20 billion Sydney Metro, Australia's largest public transport project. The Castle Hill Showground site will continue to be an important cultural and recreational facility, and with improved access to Cattai Creek. About 5,000 new homes are planned over the next 20 years, with a new design excellence clause to ensure buildings meet a high standard of architecture and urban design.
The Department has made the following changes to the draft proposal based on community feedback:
- An incentive clause in The Hills Local Environment Plan (LEP) to encourage a mix of apartment types and sizes, supporting The Hills Council's family-friendly home strategy.
- A new provision to ensure no more than 5,000 new dwellings can be built in the precinct, to ensure new homes do not outpace delivery of essential infrastructure.
- An increase to the amount of open space at Chapman Avenue Reserve.
- Changes to minimum lot size requirements for residential buildings to encourage the formation of larger development sites.
- An improved design excellence clause in The Hills LEP so new buildings meet a high standard of architecture and urban design.
- Proposed changes to land west of Cattai Creek have been deferred until further urban design and landscape master planning work is completed. This area will be subject to additional community consultation and public exhibition
- Council's request for a bonus scheme, by which additional floor space is provided for development greater than one hectare and providing for larger apartments, has also been agreed to. Community consultation identified that many landowners are already seeking to aggregate development parcels greater than one hectare. Safeguards have been included in the rezoning to ensure sites that can't aggregate to one hectare because of the road network or current lot configuration can still benefit from the bonus, with Council approval.
The Department is providing Precinct Support Scheme funding of $15 million to assist The Hills Shire Council with local public area and community infrastructure work across the Showground, Bella Vista and Kellyville Station Precincts, to support these growing communities.
We are working closely with the community, The Hills Shire Council, Landcom, Transport for NSW and other stakeholders to deliver the precinct’s infrastructure plan, master plan and public domain upgrades.
For more information
- Call 1300 305 695
- Connect with the Department of Planning and Environment on social media: