10 Developments that will change the face of Sydney by 2027

1. Walsh Bay Renewal Project: A world-class hub for performing arts
2. Sydney Fish Markets 2.0: An expanded and revamped Fish Markets
3. Sydney Modern Project: A major expansion for the Art Gallery of New South Wales
4. Joynton Avenue Creative Centre: A community space in the centre of Green Square
5. The Creative Learning Centre: The Opera House’s first dedicated space for children
6. Sydney Park Skate Scene: The Skate Space will sit next to the existing children’s cycle track. 
7. The Paper Mill: Tramsheds for Greater Western Sydney
8. MAAS Project Parramatta: A riverside museum in Parramatta
9. Sydney Metro: The tube! A skyline! Underwater tunnels!
10. Sydney Harbour High Line: The Lower North Shore’s answer to the New York High Line

For more details click here

IHAPs to be introduced for all Sydney councils

Independent Hearing and Assessment Panels (IHAPs) will become mandatory for all councils in Sydney and Wollongong to guard against corruption and lead to better local planning decisions.

Minister for Planning and Housing, Anthony Roberts, and Minister for Local Government, Gabrielle Upton, announced the Government would set clear criteria for which development applications (DAs) are to go to the panels.

Mr Roberts announced it would be mandatory for panels to consider development applications worth between $5 million and $30 million.

Those over $30 million will be dealt with by the regional Sydney Planning Panels whose threshold is presently $20 million.

Click here for more information.

Development Assessment Best Practice Guide for Councils

The Minister for Planning, Housing and Special Minister of State Anthony Roberts released the Development Assessment Best Practice Guide on 21 March 2017.

The purpose of the guide is supposed to help deliver the Premier's housing target of 90% of housing approvals to be decided within 40 days. The guide outlines processes and procedures that are being used in some councils already to improve development application (DA) approval times.

The guide recommends councils and applicants enter into an Assessment Efficiency Partnership Agreement at the start of the development assessment process to define roles and responsibilities. A template agreement has been prepared for council’s use.

The Best Practice Process Map can be viewed HERE

The Partnership Agreement can be viewed HERE

For full details on the Best Practice Guide click HERE

Changes to General Residential Zone Floor Space Ratios in the Leichhardt Local Environmental Plan

Inner West Council is proposing to increase floor space ratios (FSRs) on land zoned R1 General Residential under the Leichhardt Local Environmental Plan 2013 (LLEP 2013).

There will be a base FSR control of 0.5:1 to all R1 zoned land with the implementation of a sliding scale FSR for specific areas based on lot size.

Click here for more information and details on the proposed amendments

New Planning Legislation

The NSW Government has committed to ensuring a planning system that is straightforward and ensures high-quality decisions and planning outcomes.
 
A number of amendment proposals to improve  the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (the EP&A Act) have been developed, including: 

• Enhancing community participation: establishing a new part of the Act that consolidates community consultation provisions, and requiring decision-makers to give reasons for their decisions.
• Completing the strategic planning framework: through local strategic planning statements, up to date Local Environment Plans and more consistent and workable Development Control Plans (DCP).
• Development pathways: improvements to the various development pathways and preventing the misuse of modifications.
• State significant development: through better environmental impact assessment and more effective conditions of consent.
• Clearer building provisions: simplified and consolidated building provisions, allowing conditions on construction certificates and ensuring consistency with development approvals.
• elevating the role of design: through a new design object in the act, and a Design-Led Planning Strategy
• Improving enforcement: with the introduction of enforceable undertakings in compliance actions.

Click here for more information.

New Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts

As a result of the appointment of Gladys Berejiklian to the role of NSW Premier, the NSW Government experienced a massive reshuffle in cabinet and the subsequent appointments of new people to key roles, like NSW Planning Minister.

Taking the portfolio of Minister for Planning and Housing is Anthony Roberts, who was the former energy Minister.

Darling Square Residential Hub Approved

A new residential hub in the city with almost 400 apartments has been approved creating a vibrant new neighbourhood with homes, jobs, shops and restaurants. 

It will comprise three residential, buildings between 10-29 storeys with 391 apartments, swimming pool, gym, above ground car spaces and public space.

For more information Click Here

Council Amalgamations NSW

On the 12 May 2016 the formation of the following 19 councils proceeded:

• Armidale Regional Council : The merger of Armidale Dumaresq and Guyra Shire councils
• Canterbury-Bankstown Council : The merger of Bankstown City and Canterbury City councils
• Central Coast Council : The merger of Gosford City and Wyong Shire councils
• City of Parramatta Council : The merger of Parramatta City*, The Hills Shire*, Auburn City*, Holroyd City* and Hornsby Shire* councils
• Cumberland Council : The merger of Parramatta City*, Auburn City* and Holroyd City* councils
• Edward River Council : The merger of Conargo Shire and Deniliquin councils
• Federation Council : The merger of Corowa Shire and Urana Shire councils
• Georges River Council : The merger of Hurstville City and Kogarah City councils
• Gundagai Council : The merger of Cootamundra Shire and Gundagai Shire councils
• Hilltops Council : The merger of Boorowa, Harden Shire and Young Shire councils
• Inner West Council : The merger of Ashfield, Leichhardt Municipal and Marrickville councils
• Mid-Coast Council : The merger of Gloucester Shire, Great Lakes and Greater Taree City councils
• Murray River Council : The merger of Murray Shire and Wakool Shire councils
• Murrumbidgee Council : The merger of Jerilderie Shire and Murrumbidgee Shire councils
• Northern Beaches Council : The merger of Manly, Pittwater and Warringah councils
• Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council : The merger of Palerang and Queanbeyan City councils
• Snowy Monaro Regional Council : The merger of Bombala, Cooma-Monaro Shire and Snowy River Shire councils
• Snowy Valleys Council : The merger of Tumbarumba Shire and Tumut Shire councils
• Western Plains Regional Council : The merger of Dubbo City and Wellington councils

The following merger proposals are still pending a court decision: 

• Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra Shire, Uralla Shire and Walcha councils
• Bathurst Regional and Oberon councils
• Blayney Shire, Cabonne and Orange City councils
• Burwood, City of Canada Bay and Strathfield Municipal councils
• City of Botany Bay and Rockdale City council
• Dungog Shire and Maitland City councils
• Hornsby Shire* and Ku-ring-gai councils
• Hunter’s Hill, Lane Cove and City of Ryde councils
• Mosman Municipal, North Sydney and Willoughby City councils
• Newcastle City and Port Stephens councils
• Randwick City, Waverley and Woollahra Municipal councils
• Shellharbour City and Wollongong City councils

Bondi Pavilion Redevelopment Approved

Sydney’s Waverley Council has narrowly voted to approve the proposed $38 million redevelopment of the Bondi Pavilion. However, a council meeting scheduled for Saturday 30 April could overturn the decision.

The proposed redevelopment will include additional exhibition spaces and outdoor amphitheatres. The first floor of the existing building is slated for a number of commercial tenancies including cafes, restaurants and function rooms. The redevelopment also includes a contemporary addition in the courtyard, which will house a flexible theatre space and will be clad in a reflective, wavy facade.

A development application expected to be submitted in the next month or two, which will be assessed by the Joint Regional Assessment Panel. 

Light Rail Modifications Approved

Planning Minister Rob Stokes today announced on 22 April approval for changes to the CBD and South East Light Rail at Randwick, ensuring the preservation of greenspace and greater convenience for commuters. Mr Stokes said the Randwick Terminus will move to High Street to preserve key community open space at High Cross Park. Commuters will also be able to board the light rail directly outside Prince of Wales and Sydney Children’s Hospital.
 
Mr Stokes approved the modification plans for this Critical State Significant Infrastructure project, addressing issues raised during consultation with the following added conditions for the project:

• An upgrade of the existing private laneway from Arthur St to provide alternative car access for private properties and businesses
• Further consultation with those affected by the Arthur St laneway extension to address car access, security and parking issues.

Click here for more information. 

New Business Hubs for Western Sydney

Planning Minister Rob Stokes and Member for Camden Chris Patterson announced on the 9 February 2016 a new business hub will be built in West Hoxton.

The Business Hub will create around 200 full-time jobs during construction and house 670 jobs once completed. Work has also begun at Wetherill Park on Australia’s first industrial precinct with a six-star sustainability rating, the Horsley Drive Business Park, which will create 100 construction jobs and house 600 jobs.

For more information go the NSW Department of Planning and Environment website.

Council Boundary Review

NSW Premier Mike Baird has announced a plan for council amalgamations that would see the number of local councils across NSW shrink from 152 to 112.

Under the plan, the number of councils in greater Sydney would shrink from 43 to 25. The proposed mergers in regional NSW would result in a reduction from 109 councils to 87.

According to the state government, none of the new councils will have fewer than 150,000 ratepayers, and none will exceed the population of 473,000 expected for the large Blacktown City Council area by 2031.

Analysis conducted by KPMG consultants found that the merger plan could save up to $2 billion across the state over a period of twenty years. Each new council created under the plan would receive up to $15 million for community infrastructure.

The proposals will now be referred to the Office of Local Government for examination, and delegates will be appointed to conduct public consultation on each proposed merger. 

More information about each of the proposed mergers is available here

Fast Tracking Housing Supply and Affordability

The NSW Government will explore new actions to improve housing supply, affordability and diversity

A Discussion Paper has been released to provide recommendations on additional housing types that could be included as complying development in the State policy for exempt and complying development. 

These housing types include dual occupancy, manor homes, townhouses and terraces. 

The proposal aims to: 

• Establish complying development rules for townhouses, terraces, villas, dual occupancies and manor houses, similar to those already existing for single dwellings; 
• Reduce approval times and costs for homeowners; and 
• Deliver more housing and greater housing choice, including more sustainable housing options.

Click here for more info and to have your say.

Minister for Sustainable Cities and the Built Environment

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has appointed Jamie Briggs as Minister for Sustainable Cities and the Built Environment. Mr Briggs, the Federal Member for Mayo and current Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, was announced as Minister for the new portfolio as part of a Cabinet reshuffle.

The role would focus on encouraging greater co-operation between all levels of government.

Greater Sydney Commission

The NSW Government is establishing the independent Greater Sydney Commission, which will be responsible for metropolitan planning in a partnership between State and local government.

The Commission will work closely with local councils and communities, helping Sydneysiders to get the most out of their neighbourhoods and suburbs. 

The Greater Sydney Commission will be responsible for:

• finalising district plans for each of Sydney’s six districts
• conducting regular reviews of councils’ Local Environmental Plans
• conducting all decision-making and plan-making on rezoning proposals currently undertaken by the Minister (or delegate)
• taking on the current assessment and plan making functions of the Sydney Joint Regional Planning Panels, including pre-gateway reviews
• monitoring and reporting to Government in implementation of actions in A Plan for Growing Sydney
• requiring councils to give effect to regional growth plans and district plans when amending their local plans. 

Visit the Greater Sydney Commission website for more info. 

Infrastructure Bonanza for Bankstown and the Hills

The Planning Minister Rob Stokes announced earlier this month that a total of $30 million would be provided to build new parks and roads for new homes in Blacktown and the Hills ($19.8 million for Blacktown and $10.6 million for The Hills.

Blacktown Council has already used some of their infrastructure funding towards a water detention basin, which helps slow down the flow of water into local creeks during heavy rain. Further funding is going into projects such as a new bridge over Second Ponds Creek on Rouse Rd, Rouse Hill, collector roads to get commuters on and off Junction Rd in Schofields and water detention basins to manage stormwater and minimise pollutants entering waterways.

The Hills Shire Council will allocate funds into projects including new community facilities at Rouse Hill Library, new parks, road upgrades and cycleways.

New LEP for Sutherland Shire

The 2015 Sutherland Shire Local Environmental Plan (formerly the draft 2013 LEP) has been made.

LEP 2015 applies to all but a small portion of the Sutherland Shire and introduces new zones and development standards such as height, density and landscaped areas. The new LEP address the housing shortages in the Shire and is aimed to provide greater employment within the Shire.

For further information on the new LEP, timing and Council process go to Sutherland Shire 

SEPP 65 New Apartment Design Guidelines Released

On 19 June the Minster for Planning released the amendment to State Environmental Planning Policy No – 65 Design Quality of Residential Apartment Development (SEPP 65). The amendment also includes an update to the Residential Flat Design Code, now know as the Apartment Design Guide (ADG).

Some of the key changes include: 

• New minimum apartment size for studio apartments of 35sqm.
• The Apartment Design Guide establishes benchmarks for car parking which reflect that providing less car parking reduces the cost of apartments, and fewer young people are acquiring vehicle licences in favour of public transport use, walking and cycling.
• New requirements for solar access in mid-winter in Metropolitan Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong local government areas. 
• Recognition that the orientation of development towards significant views and away from noise sources (e.g. rail and road) may prevent achieving minimum solar access requirements.
• Development controls plans that contain provisions that are inconsistent with the ADG with respect to visual privacy, solar access and daylight access, common circulation and spaces, apartment size and layout, ceiling heights, private open space and balconies, natural ventilation and storage have no effect.

The amendments to SEPP 65 and the ADG formally commences on 17 July 2015.

For more information on the amendments visit The Department of Planning and Environment

HURSTVILLE EMPLOYMENT LANDS STUDY

Hurstville City Council is undertaking an Employment Lands Study which is reviewing all Industrial and Business Zoned land. This includes IN2 Light Industrial, B1 Neighbourhood Centre and B2 Local Centre zoned land under the Hurstville LEP 2012, but does not include the Hurstville City Centre land.

Council is inviting business owners or operators to undertake an online survey to provide further information on the current operation of Hurstville Business and Industrial Centres. 

For further information go to Hurtsville Council