16 Dight Street Richmond NSW 2753

I live on Dight Street with the proposed development behind me. I was not notified of this work by council.

The development was approved over 30 years ago. Since then, the area has been flood affected multiple times in the last few years.

There has also been the discovery of PFAS in the area from samples at the highpoint on the property. I do not know if the immense amount of soil that is to be scraped up and built up against the hill has been tested. Potentially contaminated land will be disturbed and moved in great quantities, contaminated dust will cover the houses along Dight Street, rain will wash the newly exposed chemicals into the water table and Hawkesbury River, which the drinking water supply of the Hawkesbury comes from.

This development is rife with issues and should never have been approved many years ago. The fact that it is still current is grossly irresponsible. The land has formed and compacted naturally, over an extremely long time. Building up soil does not guarantee land will not shift. This is floodplain, you can try to machine compact it as much as you like, the earth will shift over time in wet weather.

Numerous environmental and hazardous material issues aside, the properties along the border with the land will suffer a large drop in value, due to the loss of the view and having properties built right up against the back fence. Will my land rates be significantly reduced when this happens?

In the 31 years of my life in the Hawkesbury, I do not know of any land releases in Richmond. Existing properties have had knockdowns, rebuilds, townhouses built etc. but no release of new land. Why would new land be released in a flood prone area? Is there not enough land being released in North Richmond? Glossodia? (The roads and infrastructure being the same as they were when it was just a dairy farm).

I have also heard of issues with Sydney Water infrastructure on the road where the proposed roundabout is supposed to go. As far as I know these are unresolved.

This DA should be revoked and no land releases allowed here. Future home builders will experience sinkholes and foundation issues if they are ignorant and unlucky enough to build here.

There are several concerns I wish to highlight:
1. I have issue with the lack of communication surrounding this development. The first time I heard about this was when the earthworks contractors dropped a flier in our letterbox shortly before Christmas 2024. The reason this is an issue is because we are inadequately informed as to the mitigation of hazards to our heath and potential destruction of property.

2. I have great concerns over the contaminated soil that is to be disturbed in close proximity to our property. I have 2 young children who play outside regularly. I have no doubt that council has run significant testes to ensure the soil is safe, but would like this to be made available. Will the dust be managed in the earthworks process? What happens when the trucks are gone and the soil dries for months, years? We are upturning several decades of contamination, has this properly been accounted for?

3. Are you sure that the development has financial backing to be completed? My fear is that this development will be bust in a year, leaving a permanent scar on the land of the Hawkesbury for several years, decades. Again, mitigation of contaminated soil is a fear here.

4. Is the land that is to be developed safe for development? I see this is a concern also raised by Bobby. I point to the recent Jordan Springs debacle. Will this also occur on flood lands?

5. We've not been fully informed as to the actual development that is proposed. What is it? Apparently, there is going to be an 8m drop behind our property??? After years of cattle damaging our back fence, it is certainly not secure to defend against a drop like that. Who is to manage that strip when it is developed?

6. Where do we go for additional questions, issues or proposed future changes with this development?

I have fears for the ongoing health and safety of residence in terms of the chemicals in the soil, as well as the physical environmental factors this will produce. Any information, anything, would be greatly appreciated.

I am a resident of Dight Street, I was not notified by council of the development behind my home.

I think "Bobby M" and "Andy Pearce" have covered all of our concerns regarding the development. I have just one more question for council. I wish to be informed of the 31 residents that allegedly received emails regarding the development.

I purchased my home in 2022. The real estate firm mentioned nothing about the development. My new next door neighbours that bought in 2024 we're advised by the same real estate firm that only a road was being constructed behind our homes.

Council has been nothing but secretive, evasive, uninterested in our communications.

Liana B