A development company says it was inundated with calls from interested homeowners after it swamped the Arncliffe and Banksia urban renewal areas with letters offering to buy homes.
However, some residents said the letters caused panic and more uncertainty over the state government’s redevelopment plans for high-rise apartment blocks, offices, restaurants and cafes.
Community group Rockdale Residents Unite called for the immediate release of details about the priority precincts, which were announced six months ago.
Hyecorp Property Group said it sent out 500 to 600 letters after identifying property owners.
The North Shore-based company told recipients it was ‘‘interested in discussing with you the possibilities of purchasing your property’’.
It said that over the past three years it had delivered more than 450 apartments in different projects and had ‘‘a current forward pipeline of over 1000 apartments’’.
‘‘We are planning the next phase of quality residential development projects in Sydney and are currently in the market acquiring properties in the Rockdale local government area.’’
The company said it handled the entire process from purchase of properties to the design of new apartments and their sale.
George Benlian, director of sales, marketing and acquisitions, told the Leader his ‘‘phone hasn’t stopped ringing’’.
‘‘It’s an introductory letter and there are a lot of people interested in having a discussion,’’ he said.
Mr Benlian said mail-outs of this nature were not unusual and he thought negative comments on the Rockdale Residents Unite Facebook page were ‘‘a bit of over-reacting’’.
‘‘As a development group, we look at areas that have potential and Banksia and Arncliffe have been earmarked [priority precincts],’’ he said.
‘‘They have train stations and are relatively closer to the city.’’
Mr Benlian said the company purchased some properties in the precincts before the mail-out.
An Arncliffe resident said the letter caused ‘‘a lot of panic in the community’’.
‘‘We can’t get any answers from Rockdale Council,’’ she said.
‘‘My husband and I decided to do some major renovations, but when we discussed this with the council they didn’t even mention we were in a priority precinct.’’
Rockdale Residents Unite convener Bernie Sharah said the letter caused "uncertainty and speculation".
"Everyone is talking about it, everyone is wondering what is going on," he said.
"These precincts have been developed by the government, but the problem is there is no real detail.
"I have been accused of ringing alarm bells, scaremongering, but realistically if someone lives in one of these zones they have the right to know what it entails.
"I think we will see a lot of high-rise around the stations and spreading out from there.
"We certainly don't want high-rise density intruding on existing low-density areas.
"Banksia, in particular, is a low-density suburb and it does not have a major rail station. It would be an enormous change to have high-rise."
A NSW Department of Planning and the Environment spokesman said he could not yet give a timeline for the program but draft plans were expected to be released about mid-year.
Clare Haralambedis has a message for residents in the priority precincts.
‘‘This is what you have to look forward to,’’ she wrote on Facebook beneath a photo of an apartment block being built behind her parents’ home in Rockdale, where high-rise development has steadily increased.
Ms Haralambedis said her parents, who were 86 and 83, had lived in their Bay Street house for more than 50 years.
‘‘Our nice beachside suburb has certainly changed,’’ she wrote.
‘‘This is the view from their backyard.
‘‘No privacy whatsoever.
‘‘Gone will be the days of the grandchildren running around playing with the hose during summer.
‘‘Gone are the days of the Aussie backyard barbecue, gone are the days swinging on the Hills Hoist.
‘‘What with hundreds of eyes watching, my parents will be to uncomfortable to even step outside.’’
Did you receive a letter from the developer? What was your reaction?
