MsLocal

We had the pleasure of visiting Tahmoor today. We were in Tahmoor to inspect some properties as potential investments. At a glance, the town appears warm, thriving and welcoming. There are some central shops on Remembrance Driveway, a few fitness and sports grounds, a public school, and in the adjacent towns of Thirlmere and Picton police and medical facilities.
The majority of the real estate includes large blocks with homes from the mid 70’s and 80’s. Many appear to be in the process of receiving a face lift, and a few blocks appear to have new developments happening. After speaking with several real estate agents, we concluded that there appears to be a high demand for rental properties with vacancy rates at around 1-2 %.
Also, we learnt that there are some properties that have suffered damage due to a coal mine nearby. From what we could gather, there appears to be some geological shifts which have or could cause shifts in the structure of your home. That said, we were also advised that the mine has all damage to properties covered by insurance. There is information available to individuals who wish to learn more about this, simply ask one of the local real estate agents and they will direct you to the appropriate sources.
Additionally, there are some housing commission areas scattered throughout the region. After a good drive around the place, we were able to spot these locations and from what we could see there were only a few homes of this category. Most of the houses and properties appear to be well looked after and the main demographic appears to be retired professionals.
It is difficult to judge a community after only one day. However, our first impression of Tahmoor is of a small country town that is waiting to boom.

My family and I have lived in Cecil Hills for over twelve years. When we first arrived the general atmosphere of the area was one of hope and excitement, with many new homes being built and the with that fresh new suburb appeal. As time has passed, we have noticed a negative shift in the overall charm of Cecil Hills. The community, fees, shops, and schools appear to have worsened over the years…could this simply be a social cycle?

Firstly, the community spirit or friendliness would seem less than pleasant. Spend a few hours at the local shops, or simply take a walk during the morning peak hour rush, or afternoon return from work and you will notice the arrogance of some individuals. They are keen on speeding through school zones, with some racing down the main streets, tail-gating slower cars, littering and adding ‘colourful’ graffiti to their own town. Although, not all people are like this, it saddens us to notice the obvious shift in people’s mentality of late. You may notice if you walk around the main shops or through the parks the broken glass bottles, and the less than imaginative use of language painted on the children’s playgrounds.

The rates, and general costs keep going up…as in most of country…but this is particularly stressful (I would imagine) for families that have just take on board a $600000+ mortgage. The repayments alone would put things on a tight budget, let alone the increase of groceries and local childcare facilities. However, it would appear that some are doing it better than others with lush purchases of dirt bike, quad bikes, and sports vehicles that are often used to disturb the peace.

Furthermore, the variety at the shopping centre is limited. These include; Woolworths, news agency, pharmacy, take away shop, real estate, medical centre, restaurant, and the latest addition a fruit and veg shop. The medical centre has several doctors on any given day, although some physicians are by appointments only. The take away shop does at times attract a lot of the youth in the area. The restaurant on the other hand, is more of an adult ambiance with beautiful food.

Also, there are two public schools in the area; primary and secondary. I am limited with my exposure to the primary school, so I cannot comment. However, the secondary school has,(in comparison to other public high schools in the region), a higher achieving academic record with the majority of year 12 achieving their HSC. The principal at the school has been there since 2005, but the school opened in 1998. The facilities are adequate, with the unfortunate recent event of the school’s library and science labs being flooded due to a burst water main. That said, the facilities provide students with access to computers, football grounds, indoor gym and a support unit for students with special needs.

Although Cecil Hills would appear to be an impressive suburb with the grand homes and expensive cars parked in the drive-ways, in our personal experience looks can be deceiving. Having recently re-entered the housing market, one can purchase a home that is much more affordable in a suburb that provides your family with peace and quiet, safety and a sense of belonging. In the end, Cecil Hills is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Cecil Hills is an established suburb on the outskirts of Liverpool. The homes are glamorous and highlight the wealth of the residents. Most families who build or buy in Cecil Hills are not first home owners. This means an influx of teenagers. With large mortgages to pay, parents are often at work for long hours, leaving their teens free to roam the shops, parks, and streets. Although the area has parklands and playgrounds to keep most individuals amused, most teenagers in Cecil Hills find dirt bikes and sporty cars more appealing. Peace and quiet are rare with noisy dirt bikes racing behind the homes in the parklands area; and with 3am burn-outs on most main roads. Additionally, the broken glass bottles and graffiti in the children’s playgrounds highlight the nocturnal activities of the area. That said, the local schools have an excellent reputation. The high school was established in 1996, and excels in HSC results. There are around 1200 students that attend Cecil Hills High, and is primarily made up of students of non-English speaking backgrounds.
Unfortunately, Cecil Hills only has two ways in and out. With the introduction of a thousand new homes, this may cause traffic issues in the future. Also, the tempting winding rounds act as a race-course for risky drivers. The lack of Police presence in the area only fuels reckless behaviour. Of late, there has been an increase in robberies and vandalism. Within the last 6-8 months the local high school has had its’ windows smashed, computers stolen and buildings vandalised.
The local shopping centre is pleasant when it is not a parking lot for ‘done-up’ cars and late night gatherings. There is a good restaurant that has been there for 8 years. The food is fantastic and the hospitality is brilliant. However, the bottle shop has had its’ windows smashed and alcohol stolen several times. There is a medical centre with some wonderful doctors, but the wait is usually 2- 3 hours with appointments. The Woolworths is small but has reasonable prices. There is a take-away shop which is the hot-spot for teenagers.
The residents are mostly European, Asian and from the Middle East. The cultural differences at times can make it difficult to communicate with your neighbours. That said, most are happy to help out when they can. There is the usual group that holds the weekly party, which is made up of noisy karaoke and plenty of alcohol. Depending on which side of Cecil Hills you live in, the maintenance of the properties varies. Towards the shopping complex and close to the parklands, most residents take pride in their gardens and the overall state of their homes. Closer to the High School and adjacent to Cowpasture Road the homes are noticeable smaller and are more likely investment properties.
Cecil Hills was once a prestigious suburb for western Sydney families. As the suburb ages, it is noticeable starting to resemble neighbouring suburbs like Miller, Busy and Bonnyrigg, (but with a significant difference in income and wealth). Inevitably, this means rich, reckless teenagers with busy hard working parents. What a combination!
Ms Cecil Hills.
Local resident for 15 + years.