In the interests of informing the public and our members, this website previously provided links to the council's website, and to copies of documents necessary to fully understand the issues.

However in July 2004, several members of our group received a letter from solicitors acting on behalf of the council, demanding that council documents and links to the council's website be removed from this website.

Lacking the financial resources to defend any action brought by the council, 5 Acres Now had no choice but to comply.

This is an extraordinary misuse of both ratepayers' funds and copyright law, in a misguided attempt to stifle free and open discussion about an important issue.

Home | ABOUT US | Nonsense | Land Studies | Background

Decades working to overturn unreasonable zoning

The local community in Sydney's outer northwest were not impressed when the government imposed a 25 acre minimum lot size on the area in 1964, and since then have made numerous approaches to politicians and bureaucrats at all levels of government to have it overturned. So far, the result has been a glorious victory of bureaucracy over the right of the community to determine their own future.

Eventually sense and reason will prevail. In the meantime, here's some of what has been happening:

	Zoning history >>
17 May 2005	Motion seeking a report on the number of lots which could be created in the rural area tabled at council meeting. Defeated.
3 May 2005	Councillors vote to defer Environmental Management Plan pending a further public meeting.
2 March 2005	5 Acres Now Committee meets with council's planning department to stress the importance of amending the draft plan in accordance with the wish of the majority in the community.
16 February 2005	Public meeting to receive community input about the review of the Rural Land Study. Overwhelming support for 5 acre subdivision, and overwhelming opposition to environmental zone.
1 February 2005	"Community Liaison Group" meeting. Almost unanimous support for 5 acre minimum lot size.
December 2004	Consultants appointed to review the findings of the Rural Land Study.
28 November 2004	5 Acres Now general meeting to update members and invited guests at Glenorie. All 3 north ward Councillors and the MP for Hawkesbury, attend and address members.
23 November 2004	Council advertises for a suitably-qualified person to assist with the review of the Rural Land Study.
16 September 2004	Extraordinary meeting of the council to receive a presentation on the Rural Land Study from its author, and hear representations from the community. One of the largest ever attendances in the public gallery. Councillors vote unanimously against adopting the recommendations of the Study, pending a review.
15 September 2004	Letter to all Councillors urging them to reject the draft Rural Plan.
12 September 2004	5 Acres Now inaugural public meeting at Glenorie. Over 150 residents attend, most in support, making it one of the largest community meetings in recent times.
31 August 2004	Response from the Mayor supporting our concerns regarding the demand to remove documents and links to the council's website.
17 August 2004	Draft Rural Plan based upon the recommendations contained in the Rural Land Study tabled at the council's monthly planning meeting, with a recommendation from council officers that it be placed on public exhibition. Councillors vote unanimously to defer any decision about exhibition until a further briefing.
26 July 2004	Letter received from solicitors acting on behalf of the council, demanding that we remove certain council documents from our website, and also remove a link to the council's website.
8 May 2004	Informal meeting with Steven Pringle, MP for Hawkesbury, to discuss the issue.
15 April 2004	Reply from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning, and Natural Resources to letter dated 29 January 2004.
10 March 2004	This website first published.
30 January 2004	Reply from the Mayor to the letter dated 20 January 2004
29 January 2004	Letter to Minister of Department of Infrastructure, Planning, and Natural Resources, asking that he step in instruct the council to incorporate community aspirations into the Rural Strategy.
20 January 2004	Letter to the council asking for Rural Strategy to incorporate community aspirations.
17 November 2003	Planning Minister Knowles acknowledges urban consolidation is causing community anger – wants more fringe land released.
10 November 2003	Reply from the council in response to requests for a copy of each submission, and instead offering a summary.
27 October 2003	Reply from Department of Infrastructure, Planning, and Natural Resources to letter dated 9 September 2003
9 September 2003	Letter to Department of Infrastructure, Planning, and Natural Resources asking if they have instructed the council to prohibit 5 acre lot sizes.
19 August 2003	Council officers' report recommending that none of the points raised in any of the 69 submissions warrant making changes to the draft Rural Strategy report, and recommending that the report be adopted in full. Members of the public denied the opportunity to address the council over the matter at the council meeting.
6 May 2003	Draft Rural Strategy (stage 2 of the 2001 Rural Lands Study) placed on exhibition for 1 month. Public invited to make written submissions.
9 April 2002	Council officers' report recommending that none of the points raised in any of the 39 submissions received warrant making changes to the Background and Issues report.
17 December 2001	Background and Issues report (stage 1 of the 2001 Rural Lands Study) placed on exhibition for 42 days. Public invited to make written submissions.
26 April 2000	Council resolves to commence the $300,000 2001 Rural Lands Study - the 4th study since 1983.
1 August 1997	Hillside rezoning group newsletter
21 August 1996	Don Fox Planning – Status of Baulkham Hills Rural Lands Study Investigations
23 February 1996	Don Fox Planning – Summary of events 1983–1996
14 February 1996	Don Fox Planning – Options for water quality investigation
2 August 1995	Don Fox Planning – Notes for mayoral meeting
11 July 1995	Council officers' report on the 1993 Rural Lands Study
February 1995	Final report of 1993 Study
November 1993	Draft report of 1993 Study
March 1993	Letter from the council to residents about the possibility of rezoning, and advising that they will need to bear the cost of the required land study. Residents raise funds and study commences – "Investigation of Land with Potential for Rural Residential Subdivision"
	More to come ...

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5 acres – a reasonable minimum lot size for Sydney's outer northwest. 25 acres – ridiculous!