FAQ.

The development does not encroach into the Eastern Creek floodway and has no impact on the Eastern Creek catchment area. The development will incorporate stormwater management strategies to ensure that stormwater from the surrounding areas flow through the site to Eastern Creek with no impact.

Richards is a new suburb and a key employment zone for the North West Growth Area in line with the State Government plans for the precinct established in 2009.

The first step in delivering Richards is to establish the footprint of the suburb. We have submitted a DA to Council for civil works for the whole of the site. Approval of the civil works provides a firm basis to masterplan the site.

The civil works DA is currently under evaluation by Council. The civil works will commence on site as soon as possible following approval of the DA.

The works will start near Vineyard and progress towards Garfield Rd. Works are staged to allow the existing yards at Vineyard to remain in operation during the initial stages.

Butcher’s Row is conserved in the Blacktown Local Environment Plan and the cottages are currently maintained. The civil works do not impact the cottages because the works are kept clear of the area of the houses. The future uses of the Butchers Row cottages will be coordinated with the Department of Planning and Council work on the Riverstone Town Centre redevelopment.

There will be no traffic impact to Riverstone Town Center. The town center and the Riverstone level crossing will be off-limits to construction traffic. Construction traffic coming from the M7 and Richmond Rd will turn left into the site from Garfield Rd. No trucks will exit on to Garfield Rd – all trucks will exit the site at Bandon Rd and return via Windsor Rd.

It is business as usual. You will have the benefit of your existing lease. We are still doing new leases and we will continue to do so.

The civil works DA lays the groundwork for benefits to Riverstone and the surrounding region as a whole.

• Greatly expanded opportunities for local business and local employment.
• Infrastructure improvements will assist with local traffic and stormwater management.
• Open space providing active and passive recreation.

As Riverstone develops we would like to see the site open up to other employment opportunities such as healthcare and education.

With over 100 hectares of open space (larger than the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Domain & Hyde Park combined) and 5km of frontage to Eastern Creek, the Richards open space will be a regional resource providing excellent opportunities for both passive and active recreation. This will include walking trails, bike paths and opportunities for more programmed recreation activities.

The Richards site has been operating as a major employment site for the region for over 150 years since the Riverstone Meatworks was opened in 1878. The Meatworks operated for over 100 years until its closure in the 1990s and now, Richards remains a key site for local employment with around 200 businesses choosing to locate here. Richards will continue to grow in significance not only locally but to the region and become an increasingly vital employment hub ideally suited for a range of industries including high-demand health and education sectors as well as high-tech manufacturing, data centres, transport and logistics.