© 2005 Winston Hills Residents Action Group. All Rights Reserved.

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24 - 26 May 2006

At 9:30am on Wednesday 24 May 2006 at the Winston Hills Hotel, 76 residents attended the Land and Environment Court on-site hearing to register their opposition to and express their views concerning the proposed Development Application for the refurbishment of the hotel.
The officials present were Commissioner Brown of the Land and Environment Court; Mr George Smith, a court appointed expert planner of Design Collaborative Pty Ltd, Mr Peter Marincowitz, Lawyer acting for Parrramatta City Council; Ms Louise Connolly, Development Services Manager, Parramatta City Council; Mr Pearce, Lawyer acting for Baulkham Hills Shire Council; A Planner from Baulkham Hills Shire Council; Mr McEwan, Lawyer acting for the hotel owner and his assistant; Mr Renzo Tonin of Tonin and Associates, Acoustic Consultants acting for Parramatta City Council; Mr Andrew Thomas, owner of the Winston Hills Hotel; Mr Cameron McKid, Manager & Licencee of the Winston Hills Hotel; Mr Neil Gross of Wilkinson Murray, Acoustic Consultant acting for the hotel owner.

The residents involment in the hearing lasted for approximately 2 hours during which time Commissioner Brown listened to the views of 14 residents. At approximately 11:30am the officials moved into the hotel for further discussions with the relevant experts followed by an inspection of the hotel, car park and surrounds. The on-site hearing concluded at approximately 12:05pm. The hearing was then to re-convene at the Land and Environment Court in Sydney at 2:00pm. Five members of the Winston Hills Residents Action Group attended the afternoon hearing which consisted of the tendering of various documents from both applicant and respondents followed by testimony from the court appointed expert Mr Smith and the two acoustic experts. Proceedings concluded at approximately 4:00pm at this time Commissioner Brown indicated that the court would reconvene at 10:00am the next day.

Thursday 25 May 2006 the court commenced at 10:00am four members of the Winston Hills Action Group attended. A number of additional documents were tendered and the lawyers for applicant and both councils made their final submissions to the court. Commissioner Brown closed the hearing at approximately 12:00 midday and indicated he would give his judgement at 9:30am the next day, Friday 26 May 2006.

9:30am 26 May 2006 , Commissioner Brown upheld the owner’s appeal. The consent conditions placed on the hotel were of little or no benefit to the residents. Both councils had asked for the most stringent conditions to be applied but  Commissioner Brown ignored their requests.

The court has requested that there be some alterations made to the Hotel Plan of Management and this must be done before Wednesday 31 May 2006 when at such time Commissioner Brown’s final Judgement will be issued.

The Winston Hills Residents Action Group is both disappointed and angry at the way Commissioner Brown has disregarded the expert advice and shown scant regard for the views and concerns of the residents. Once again the Land and Environment Court has shown itself to be a creature of the developers.

Neither Council put up much of a fight in support of the residents just another example of them rolling over in face of court action by developers. It is about time councils understood who pays their wages and started displaying some backbone and stand up for their ratepaying residents.
 

15 May 2006

Today at the Burwood Local Court, Parramatta City councillor Brian Prudames was prosecuted under section 474.17(1) of the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995 and pleaded guilty to using a telephone to menace, harrass or offend Mr. Barry Morgan, a committee member of the Winston Hills Residents Action Group . Magistrate Paul Cloran told councillor Prudames his conduct was “disgraceful”  (refer Parramatta Advertiser article 17 May 2006). Councillor Prudames represents the Caroline Chisholm Ward which includes Winston Hills.
This is not the first time Councillor Prudames has been accused of “threatening and aggressive language” to residents about the proposed changes to the Winston Hills Hotel (refer
Parramatta Sun article 3 May 2006).

25 April 2006 (ANZAC Day)

A number of brawls broke out at the Winston Hills Hotel during the annual  ANZAC Day special event conducted by the hotel. Up to 8 police cars were in attendance and an ambulance had to be called. A number of residents witnessed a Police Officer being thrown to the ground by unruly hotel patrons (refer Hills Shire Times article 2 May 2006). They also witnessed gangs of hotel patrons roaming the nearby streets, kicking fences, using foul language and causing malicious damage to residents’ properties. A number of hotel patrons were fighting on a resident’s front lawn whilst others, too drunk to walk, just lay in the front gardens of nearby residents’ homes or the nearest gutter. The residents in nearby houses were terrified. Due to the continuing problems the hotel was instructed to close down by the Police. During all this time residents who witnessed the brawls and anti social behaviour noted that the hotel Security Staff on duty were totally powerless to prevent it.

These are the problems that the Winston Hills Residents Action Group have warned will happen on a regular basis if the DA for the refurbishment of the hotel is approved by Land and Environment Court. This ANZAC Day special event is a foretaste of what can and will happen when large numbers of patrons are attracted to the refurbished hotel on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

We urge all residents to attend the Land and Environment Court onsite hearing to be held at the Winston Hills Hotel at 9:30am Wednesday 24th May 2006. This is your last opportunity to register your opposition to the proposed DA for the refurbishment of the Winston Hills Hotel.

It is most important that as many residents attend this onsite hearing as possible.

3 March 2006

A Case Management meeting was held today in Court 3a of the Land and Environment Court - Commissioner Brown presiding. Those attending were the Owner and Solicitor acting for Parramatta City Council.

The Owner has lodged two appeals with the Land and Environment Court: -
05/11384 THOMAS, Andrew - v - Parramatta City Council
06/10020 THOMAS, Andrew - v - Baulkham Hills Shire Council

During the meeting a date was set for an on-site Land and Environment Court Hearing at the Winston Hills Hotel, to be held at 9:30am on Wednesday 24 May 2006 and the Judgement will be handed down on Thursday 25 May 2006 at the Land and Environment Court, 225 Macquarie Street, Sydney.

31 January 2006

The Development Application for the Winston Hills Hotel refurbishment was rejected at the Baulkham Hills Shire Council Delegated Authority Meeting held this morning at 10:00am. Lord Mayor Sonia Phillips rejected the DA on the following grounds: -

1. Increased Noise
2. Impact on the amenity of the residents
3. Council did not wish to preempt the determination of the Land and Environment
   Court as the applicant had already lodged an appeal in the Land and Environment
   Court.

A number of members from the Winston Hills Residents Action Group attended the meeting and would like to thank Lord Mayor Phillips for Council’s decision in support of the residents.

13 December 2005

The Development Application for the Winston Hills Hotel refurbishment was rejected at the Parramatta City Council Regulatory Meeting held last night, Monday 12 December. Councillor Chris Worthington put the motion to reject the DA and it was carried eight votes to six.
The following Councillors voted for the motion to reject the DA: - Councillors C Worthington; J Chedid; A Brown; P Esber; P Garrard; O Jamal; M Walsh (Deputy Lord Mayor) and L Wearne.
Those opposing the motion were: - Councillors P Barber; D Borger (Lord Mayor); J Finn; T Issa; C Lim and A Wilson; Councillor B Prudames was absent.
We would like to thank all the Councillors who supported the residents by voting for Councillor Worthington’s motion to reject the DA.

It was revealed during the debate that the owner of the Winston Hills Hotel had lodged an appeal in the Land and Environment Court this came as a surprise to a number of Councillors including Councillor Worthington who appeared not to be aware of this. Apparently the Council’s officers had not notified the Councillors that the appeal had been lodged prior to the  council meeting. “A spokeswoman for council said the Land and Environment Court would set a hearing date on January 28, 2006” (refer
Parramatta Advertiser article 14 December 2005).We will keep you up to date on developments concerning this appeal as they come to hand.

There was a good attendance of Winston Hill’s residents and the public gallery was full. We would like to thank all those residents who were able to attend this meeting. Your continuing support is very much appreciated.

30 November 2005

The Development Application for the Winston Hills Hotel refurbishment is scheduled to come before Parramatta City Council at its Regulatory Meeting on Monday 12 December 2005. We need your support now more than ever. We request all concerned residents, their families and friends to take the time to attend this very important Council Meeting.
The meeting will begin at 6:45pm on Level 4, Council Chambers, Civic Place, Parramatta (at rear of Town Hall).
Remember there is power in numbers, we need your support. Please do not leave it to others, this is your suburb, help us protect it.
It is important Councillors are made aware, before they vote, of your concerns about the social impact this inappropriate development will have on residents. Please let them know of your objections to this proposed development. A list of Councillors and their contact information may be accessed on this web site at the “Who to Contact/
Local Councillors” page.

14 November 2005

The Development Application for the Winston Hills Hotel refurbishment came before Parramatta City Council at its Regulatory Meeting this evening and was deferred to a future Council Meeting (refer Parramatta Advertiser article 16 November 2005
Note: The date of the 12 December 2005 Council meeting mentioned in  Advertiser article is yet to be confirmed). Councillor Worthington (Caroline Chisholm Ward) moved the motion of deferral. The motion addressed a concern relating to due process in the preparation of the Hotel’s proposed Management Plan and that the opinion of a Senior Legal Counsel be sought in relation to this matter before proceeding with the consideration of the Development Application.

A Division was called and Councillors voted in favour of Councillor Worthington’s motion 8 to 6. The following Councillors voted for the motion: -
C Worthington; P Barber; O Jamal; P Garrard; J Chedid; M Walsh; P Esber and A Brown.Those opposing the motion were D Borger (Mayor); J Finn; C Lim; A Wilson; L Wearne and T Issa; Councillor Prudames was absent.
We would like to thank all the Councillors who supported the residents by voting for Councillor Worthington’s motion of deferral.

There was a good attendance of Winston Hill’s residents and the public gallery was full to overflowing. We would like to thank all those residents who were able to attend this meeting. Your continuing support is very much appreciated.

8 November 2005

The Development Application for the Winston Hills Hotel refurbishment will come before Parramatta City Council on Monday, 14 November at 6:45pm. Level Four, Council Chambers, Civic Place (rear of the Town Hall).
We need as many residents as possible to attend so please support this meeting.
For more details read Parramatta City Council Business Papers for 14/11/05: -
http://pcc.netforce.com.au/Customers/pcc/ebp/2005/ebp2005.nsf/f345889e545014 a5ca256e5200180791/dfcd6396ebfe9ca1ca25705900221bad?OpenDocument

1 November 2005

The Chisholm Centre Newsagency in Belliotti Avenue was held up today at 3:00pm by two men. One of the owners, Ray Hastie, was attacked with a pruning saw and received several stitches and his wife Heather was threatened. The men wanted money and cigarettes and are described as, one wearing a balaclava, white/european in appearance, thin build 175cm tall with short, spiky, sandy coloured hair and a large tattoo on the side of his neck wearing a dark coloured shirt and jeans, his accomplice was in his early 20’s about 170cm tall wearing a black baseball cap. Anyone who witnessed the hold up are asked to ring CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

12 October 2005

The Development Application for the Winston Hills Hotel refurbishment is currently on hold following the Parramatta City Council meeting of 12 September 2005 at which Council has asked for a number of reports to be prepared i.e. Plan for the Management of Loutish behaviour, Noise projections and Crime statistics etc.
The Development Application will return to Council “most likely in November” a spokeswoman said (refer
Parramatta Advertiser article 12 October 2005).
The most likely Council Meeting would be 14 November 2005 but this will need to be confirmed.

28 September 2005

The problem of shopping trolleys from the Big W & Coles being left in the local streets around the Winston Hills Shopping Mall has been taken up with Councillor Chris Worthington and action is being taken to eliminate this on going problem.

27 September 2005

“Residents Only” parking along Caroline Chisholm Drive directly opposite the Winston Hills Shopping Mall is another issue to be raised with Parramatta City Council. A petition is being prepared and will be submitted to Council for consideration.

 

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