Locals concerned about 536-home project in bushfire zone
Locals are concerned about the bushfire and evacuation risks of a proposed Wilga Wilson Precinct residential development of 536 dwellings at Ingleside.
To be located at Wilson Avenue, Wilga Street and Powderworks Road, it would have up to 133 houses, 210 terrace houses and 193 apartments.
Property groups Mirvac and Truslan want to rezone the site from rural to medium density residential use.
In 2016, the NSW Government released a plan for 3,000 dwellings for Ingleside. A bushfire risk study commissioned by the government in 2018 confirmed the potential for Ingleside to be exposed to ‘extreme to catastrophic bushfire risk,’ and raised concerns about the safe evacuation. A plan for 980 dwellings was proposed in 2021 but scrapped in 2022 due to concerns about evacuation in the event of a bushfire.
“Nothing substantive (on bushfire risk has changed),” said Dick Clarke from Elanora Heights Residents Association. “So the question must be asked – if it failed bushfire evacuation standards last time, why is such an increase in (housing) density even being proposed now?
“We all agree more affordable housing is needed, but not at any cost. Balance is the key in all things, and this proposal fails on a number of counts, not just the bushfire issue,” added Mr Clarke.
An independent bushfire risk assessment undertaken by the applicants found that the proposal was ‘a suitable use of the land.’ Another assessment found that the revegetated riparian corridor (Mullet Creek) through the precinct would ‘expose some dwellings to a bushfire hazard,’ but that ‘assuming’ residents evacuated onto Powderworks Road, vehicles were ‘expected to be able to evacuate in the time available.’
Northern Beaches councillor Vincent De Luca told PL that Powderworks Road was at times very congested. “Anyone going (there) any afternoon or morning would know just how ridiculous it would be (as an evacuation road),” Cr De Luca said. “Not just ridiculous, but unsafe for an emergency evacuation because you’d have people chockers to chockers. I don’t think that bushfire and evacuation risks have been appropriately addressed.”
The NSW Government has introduced a planning reform bill to speed up assessment times and allow developers to bypass the advice of agencies such as the Rural Fire Service.
Independent Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby slammed the bill, saying that new homes ‘shouldn’t be built in high-risk bushfire areas with risks to evacuation.’
“I reject spot rezoning and state-led planning,” Ms Scruby said. “Housing supply must never come at the expense of basic safety.”
The proposal is open for submissions on the council’s website until 8 October.