Orchard Hills

Orchard Hills is a priority precinct identified for growth in the Greater Penrith to Eastern Creek Strategic Framework. This framework identifies areas where there is capacity for new housing and urban renewal and supports growth that aligns with infrastructure investment. 

Orchard Hills is identified as a priority urban release area in the short term, meaning precinct planning will be undertaken within 1 to 5 years. The focus of strategic planning efforts within Orchard Hills is to rezone land to support a new mixed-use centre. This centre will capitalise on the new Metro Station and provide diverse housing, supporting infrastructure, new employment opportunities, retail and local services, and support the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan.

We are in the process of preparing a draft precinct plan and rezoning package for Orchard Hills.

In late 2022, we released a discussion paper to collect community and stakeholder feedback on the early findings and ideas for planning in Orchard Hills. The feedback provided by the community and stakeholders on this discussion paper has informed the ongoing development of the draft Orchard Hills precinct plan.

We are is preparing a range of technical studies and investigations to support the precinct planning process and intends to publicly exhibit the draft rezoning in mid 2024, pending the outcome of these technical studies and investigations.

In response to concerns about impacts on land values and rates prior to development being able to occur, we have adopted a staged approach to the rezoning to ensure costs of infrastructure and potential impacts are managed and timely. This will be achieved through staged releases of land, with the first stages of development expected to occur around the new Metro station.

We are continuing to engage with other agencies and organisations, including Sydney Water, Transport for NSW and Penrith City Council (Council) to ensure development will be supported by the necessary infrastructure and services required.

To enable the community to understand the potential future land uses across the wider precinct, we will also release a structure plan as part of the public exhibition. The structure plan will provide the ‘zoning intent’ for all land in Orchard Hills, so landowners can see expected future land uses in their ‘neighbourhood’.

We received advice from the Commonwealth Department of Defence that there may be per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present in part of the precinct study area. In addition to our ongoing technical studies relating to issues such as transport, urban design, biodiversity and stormwater management, we also engaged a consultant to carry out survey and soil testing work within and adjoining the precinct to confirm the nature and extent of the contamination.

This testing confirmed that minor traces of PFAS contamination are present within the Orchard Hills investigation area, however the levels detected are below the accepted residential standards, which means the precinct planning process can safely proceed.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) will now engage with the NSW PFAS Technical Advisory Group to determine if any further actions or advice are required within the Orchard Hills investigation area. We anticipate that an update will be available from the EPA before the end of June 2024.

The results of this testing and our other technical studies will inform the draft plan that will go on public exhibition for community feedback. We anticipate this to occur in mid-2024.

The impact on the value of land is difficult to determine at this early stage. A draft precinct planning package will be exhibited in mid-2024 at which point more information will be available to determine the potential future land use opportunities for individual sites.

Generally, land values increase after a rezoning that permits more intensive and profitable land uses. Even if land is not rezoned, the value of the property may also benefit from improved access to infrastructure and services, such as the provision of a new Metro station, which is currently under construction.

As the precinct plan is developed, some land may be identified for public purposes that would require acquisition. In most cases acquisition occurs through negotiation and the timing for acquisition can be flexible, depending on the proposed land use and the rate of development in the area. As the plan for the area is developed those areas required for facilities like schools, electricity infrastructure, parks and community uses will be identified along with clarification regarding any acquisition. 

More information regarding property acquisition is available at Property Acquisition NSW.

The NSW Government has appointed Professor Roberta Ryan as the Independent Community Commissioner to help with planning for the future of Orchard Hills.

The Community Commissioner is independent of government. Professor Ryan’s role in Orchard Hills is to: 

• help the community understand the planning process and what any proposed changes may mean, and
• help to raise any community issues and concerns with the Government during the process.

If you need to contact the Independent Community Commissioner, please be in touch with Kate Robinson from her office by email at [email protected] or phone 0408 115 467.

We are still considering the inclusion of part of The Vines in the staged precinct planning process for the wider Orchard Hills area. This consideration will ensure the area is fully integrated in the future of Orchard Hills and that The Vines residents can easily access the facilities and services Orchard Hills will have in the future, including the new metro station.

There is no simple solution to managing or reducing the Hawkesbury-Nepean valley’s high flood risk. The NSW Government is delivering the Flood Strategy program, together with local councils, businesses, and the community. Managing existing and future flood risk in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley requires an integrated approach to infrastructure, land use and emergency management planning.

The NSW Government is committed to delivering growth in the right places putting the safety and resilience of the community at the heart of decision making, whilst providing opportunities for new jobs, housing, and public spaces in Orchard Hills.

We will continue to work closely with state agencies and flood experts to align the planning for Orchard Hills with the recommendations of the NSW Flood Inquiry and the NSW Government’s response.