Residents of Macquarie Links need to think long and hard about supporting the proposal to subdivide the last piece of open space in the estate for housing.
The original developer of Macquarie Links, Monarch Investments, is behind the proposal, marketed to the residents as a joint venture between them and the company.
Certainly the promise of sharing in a windfall would be tempting for many, and who could blame them, especially right now in the middle of the worst cost of living crisis for almost 40 years
According to the CEO for Monarch, Peter Icklow, residents could potentially share in a pot of just under $15 million if the subdivision and sale of land go ahead.
But residents need to heed the words of their fellow resident and former Campbelltown Mayor, Les Patterson.
“Once the land is gone it’s gone forever,’’ he told the South West Voice last week when he declared he was opposed to developing the land across his home in Governor’s Way.
The land occupies just about the highest point of the estate and offers clear views to the Sydney skyline and the Harbour Bridge.
Most of it is passive recreation land, with a small section devoted to a soccer field with portable goalposts.
There’s a wonderful forest on the eastern ridge, facing Ingleburn, and amazing walking paths and lookouts.
While talking to Mr Patterson on site, a family walked up while we were chatting, and the kids raced to the soccer field to kick the ball around.
The South West Voice asked the parents what they thought of the proposal, and they said they weren’t sure which way they would be leaning, which is understandable.
It’s also true there’s a massive housing shortage, but a money grab like this won’t save the day, not with the proposed 30 home sites.
The developer should quietly withdraw from the whole venture and let the people of Macquarie Links enjoy what little open space they have.
From the response we have had since publishing the story last week, it would be an emphatic “no’’ from the people of Macquarie Links and Campbelltown if the proposal ever turned up on public exhibition.