The largest planned housing development in Hawkesbury's history is officially underway. Developers of the former Peels Dairy property on Terrace Road, Freemans Reach, have initiated discussions with Hawkesbury Council and begun outreach to community groups and the Hawkesbury Post to share their vision for the ambitious project.

However, the glossy marketing material fails to accurately address the impacts of flooding on residents west of the Hawkesbury River but emphasises the developers' commitment to community collaboration. "We are committed to collaborating with, and listening to, the community to ensure we can achieve positive outcomes that deliver benefits for the entire Hawkesbury region," reads a message from Celestino, the company behind the project.

Dubbed Hambledon Park, the development is expected to take 10-years to complete after rezoning and development approvals.

The new website features scenic images of the undeveloped farmland bordering the Hawkesbury River and, like most developer marketing images it omits any visual representation of what the site will look like once thousands of homes are constructed and the farmland no longer exists. 

The developers have pledged to create a community that “gives back to the Hawkesbury region,” highlighting sustainability, local job creation, and amenities for "everyone" as key benefits. 

However, the isolation caused by flooding for prospective buyers, isn't mentioned. On the website’s Q&A section, the developers responded to their own question, “Will the project be impacted by flooding?” with:

“Hambledon Park occupies an elevated position above the Hawkesbury River and is therefore not directly impacted by flooding from the Hawkesbury Nepean floodplain. In addition, specialist engineering consultants will be engaged to ensure that all elements of the proposed masterplan are designed to account for localised stormwater flows across the site.”

The launch of the new website and development comes as many Hawkesbury residents voice growing concerns over the rapid proliferation of housing estates in the region. Critics fear the transformation of the semi-rural area into another poorly planned western Sydney housing estate, destroying the natural environment and threatening the character of one of Greater Sydney's last green belts.

These sentiments have been reflected in recent election results and social media discussions.

Celestino’s proactive approach to engaging the public highlights an awareness of this sentiment. The website launch signals their intention to be seen as working alongside the community as development plans progress.

However, the scale of the proposed development has drawn scrutiny. Originally approved as a small rural subdivision with 25 lots, Hambledon Park could see more than 4,000 housing lots emerge on the iconic Hawkesbury Farm, transforming it into a potential new western Sydney suburb. The property, purchased for $60 million, is one of several major developments planned or underway west of the Hawkesbury River bringing approximately 7000 new homes to the flood prone region. 

These projects present significant challenges, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure and essential services.

The recently approved Grose River Bridge, initially designed to handle traffic from the 1,399-lot Redbank development, may now be insufficient to support the planned population boom.

A previous concept plan submitted to Hawkesbury City Council was knocked back in 2020 and included an Agricultural Enterprise Precinct, said to be based on Sydney Science Park at Luddenham, however there’s no sign of this in the information currently being circulated by Celestino. Neither is there now any mention of road upgrades to increase the capacity across the Hawkesbury River. 

Celestino has previously been involved in regional discussions, including evidence provided by their CEO, Matthew Scard, to a 2021 Parliamentary Inquiry regarding plans to raise the Warragamba Dam wall. "Celestino has become aware in the process of preparing documents for Hawkesbury Council that some of the access roads to our development... are subject to flooding," Mr Scard stated.

You can read his testimony here

Go here to read the Hambleton Park website

Artist's impression: The iconic Peel's Dairy farm will be turned into the Hawkesbury's largest housing estate