Existing residents said their concerns included bush fire hazards, privacy issues, shadows, traffic and building into Hassans Wall. 

Lithgow City Council organised the site inspection with housing developer Norman Johnson and residents from High Street, Lithgow, to learn more about the plans for the site and hear the concerns of local residents. 

A final decision on the development plan is expected to be made in November once all the official plans have been submitted and the mayoral election has taken place. The proposed plan is to build two double storey unit blocks with a ground level car park and three double storey town houses at the top of High Street. 

The double storey unit blocks would have six units per block and would allow rear access to each. 

“I saw the environment and thought it was ideal and terrific for what we had planned,” developer Norman Johnson said. 

Six separate residents have submitted formal objections to the development.

Read more: 

“I’ve read all the objections and have made responses which I am happy to give to the councillors,” Mr Johnson said.  

According to Mr Johnson, the area is zoned as general residential with medium density use which meant everything he was proposing would be within the code. 

“If it was low density use I might reconsider, I empathise with them I do, but there isn’t anything I can do about that,” he said. 

Residents are worried that they are going to go from having three neighbours to more than 15. 

“It’s different in Sydney, there is room for it but we aren’t in Sydney, this is Lithgow, there is no need for units,” resident David Mulligan said. 

“This street is quite small and now they expect 20 to 30 cars to come and go across the road from a child care centre, it’s very dangerous.” 

Second-generation resident David Ngo came back to Lithgow 20 years ago for the lifestyle it allowed and wanted his children to have the same opportunity. 

“Every morning I get up and see the kangaroos on the land and it’s peaceful, you know? Once they start building they will be gone forever,” Mr Ngo said. 

Mr Johnson said he would be happy to take on the feedback and to work on minimising the impacts on residents. 

“I was happy to come and talk to the residents today because I believe we have created a solid plan with components that will minimise the impacts,” he said. 

“I’m not optimistic about it but if they’re going to do it I want them to do it properly,” resident Geoff Daley said.