If you have been sitting on the edge of your seat, keeping your eyes and ears on all the ‘riveting’ information coming out about the Lindfield Village Hub (LVH), then all I can say is that I am thoroughly impressed with your patience.
The project has been tight-lipped and confidentially discussed at Council meetings for 12 years.
Nevertheless, avid LVH hopefuls can finally clutch at some good news, after the turn of events last November, where Council staff received startling news from Transport for NSW officers that the $9.8 million funding earmarked for 135 commuter parking spaces was being withdrawn.
However, recent developments brought some relief: Councillor Alec Taylor presented a petition signed by 1000 community members at the Ku-ring-gai Council meeting on the 21st of May.
Responding to this overwhelming support, the Councillors unanimously passed resolution C.1 to save the Lindfield Village Hub from termination. Instead, they will engage in negotiations with other tender finalists to ensure the project lives on.
This is, again, where the information surrounding the Hub fizzles out.
Linda McDonald, President and one of the founders of Support Lindfield, a community group that has fought and advocated for the LVH since 2012, spoke to The Post on the recent decision.
“Support Lindfield was responsible for the change.org petition that forced the Council to keep the Hub project alive” A petition that racked up 1000 plus signatures. “In other words, they didn't kill the project, which some Councillors tried to do at the previous Council meeting.”
Lindfield Village Hub is the largest urban renewal project the Council has undertaken in its 100-year history. The Hub will be an active, vibrant village green with cafes and dining areas facing a new public park.
“This is easily the most exciting project Ku-ring-gai has ever seen and not just for Lindfield. It will deliver a vibrant and exciting culture from Roseville through to Pymble and West Pymble.” Expresses President of Support Lindfield, Linda McDonald. “It will transform the communities all the way up the Highway and provide a real village and meeting place for all ages and interests.”
“Support Lindfield believes that the project should have a high profile in the community with proper PR and communication to drive excitement and anticipation. Council needs to bring the community along with them rather than burying the project in a cloak of secrecy.” – Linda McDonald.
“Because of the $10m hole in the project funding left by the State Government withdrawing it, after having been squirrelled away in the State coffers since 2013, and the rezoning and Transport Oriented Development (TOD) targeting this area, Support Lindfield expects that the residential component will have to increase to make the project viable.”
With a potential blossoming project still in some form of Limbo, the question remains, what is going to happen?
It is a testament to groups like Linda McDonald's ‘Support Lindfield’ for their efforts in keeping the noise up about the project, but with a blanket of confidentiality, and little information and updates from the Ku-ring-gai council who seem far too preoccupied with legal disputes with the state government, it's natural to question when this project will begin.
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