Sydney Council Considers Residential Development in Parts of Southern Employment Lands

The City’s employment lands in the south of our local area are some of the most strategically important in NSW. The employment lands are currently zoned mainly for industrial purposes, however changes in the Australian economy mean there is less need for industrial-zoned land close to the inner-city. The new planning controls will allow for the transition of the employment lands from areas of traditional industrial uses and low density employment to places of more diverse business activity and employment opportunities. Up to 9,000 more workers are expected to work in the employment lands over the next 15 years as a result of the changes.

Two investigation areas have been identified within the City of Sydney's southern employment lands where requests for site-specific planning proposals will be considered to permit residential uses and changes to maximum height and FSR controls. The City has released draft guidelines that provide a framework for assessing planning proposals and set out contribution rates to facilitate infrastructure delivery, including affordable housing. The draft guidelines are on public exhibition until 25 May 2015.

More information can be found at City of Sydney

Two 38m Towers Proposed Opposite Centennial Park

In March 2015, Council received a Planning Proposal for properties at the western end of Oxford Street, Bondi Junction (known as 194-214 Oxford Street & 2 Nelson Street, Bondi Junction). 

A developer is proposing to "bookend" the western fringe of the suburb with higher density introducing "a sense of arrival at Bondi Junction and the Waverley Municipality" and revitalise the area opposite Centennial Parklands.

The planning proposal intends to amend the following development controls contained in the Waverley Local Environmental Plan 2012 (WLEP2012):

• Increase the height standard from 15 metres to 38 metres
• Increase the floor space ratio standard from 1.5:1 to 5:1
• Remove the heritage status of four terrace houses at 194-200 Oxford Street.

The development is also proposing a potential draft Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) that includes:

1. Provision of a Public Carpark facility within the first basement level below the sites containing not less than 50 carspaces, bicycle parking and lockers/showers,to be owned and operated by Waverley Council for the benefit of the local community
2. Land, for the purpose of road/footpath widening and/or traffic improvements, along the Oxford Street frontage of the site will be dedicated to Waverley Council. 
3. Creation of a Pedestrian/Cycle thru-site link from Oxford Street to Osmund Lane for improved connectivity in and around the area.
4. Creation of a Public Plazetta at street level at No.2 Nelson Street, Bondi Junction.
5. Street works including but not limited to: Street paving, Street lighting, Street furniture, Public Art, Landscaping, Stormwater Drainage 

For more information visit Waverley Council website.

NSW Planning Hub

The newly released NSW PlanningHub provides access to information to help land owners, consultants and the community prepare, lodge and track development applications.

Whether you’re getting started on a new build or renovation or want to lodge and track your development application the PlanningHub helps you on your journey and provides access to tools designed to make the process simpler.

Click here for more info and to use PlanningHub

Woollahra LEP 2014 finalised

Woollahra LEP 2014 has been approved by the Minister for Planning and was published on the NSW Legislation website on 23 January 2015. However, it will not commence until 23 May 2015 when it will replace Woollahra LEP 1995.

The deferred commencement will allow Council to progress the Draft Woollahra DCP 2014 which was on public exhibition until 30 January 2015.

The Woollahra LEP 2014 and Woollahra DCP 2015 will commence concurrently on 23 May 2015.

City of Sydney Council Releases Hotel Action Plan

The City of Sydney has released an action plan encouraging new hotel developments, including more mid-range hotels that are popular with the growing number of Asian visitors.

With more and more visitors coming from China, demand for three star hotel rooms is expected to grow significantly and the City has worked closely with tourism groups to prepare the Visitor Accommodation Action Plan to help meet this demand.

Under the draft plan approved by councillors, the City will look at reducing development costs to encourage three star hotels in the western and southern parts of the city near infrastructure projects such as Darling Harbour Live and the Light Rail line. It will review zoning around these projects to encourage appropriate visitor accommodation.

The City will help new accommodation projects by developing investment liaison procedures and publishing a development guide to assist investors identify development sites and negotiate the planning system.

For more information visit City of Sydney Council 

Smart planning paves way for 34,000 new jobs across regional NSW

Across regional NSW land that has been rezoned for potential jobs growth under the standard planning scheme includes:

• Dubbo - an estimated 3300 hectares rezoned for new employment lands that will generate around 675 jobs, in addition to the $30m Orana Mall Shopping Centre expansion.
• Lithgow – around 2000 new jobs to be generated in the Marrangaroo industrial release area.
• Bathurst – 600 new jobs linked to the transport hub on Sydney Road.
• Broken Hill – an additional 400 hectares and around 400 jobs for large-scale mining and transport-related industrial uses.
• Narrabri - 138 hectares rezoned for new employment lands in Narrabri and Boggabri that will support up to 2700 jobs.
• Inverell - 59 hectares rezoned for new employment lands that will support up to 1170 jobs.
• Yass – 18 hectares rezoned in the Yass town centre for up to 3,000 new jobs and 130 hectares of industrial land between Yass and the Hume Highway for growth in freight and logistics jobs.
• Queanbeyan - a 7 hectare expansion of the Jerabomberra shopping centre to generate 2,000 jobs and a new 30 hectare business park development to support 4,000 jobs at the Poplars.

For more information visit the Department of Planning and Environment

A Plan for Growing Sydney

The Government has just released the new Metropolitan Strategy with a new name “A Plan For Growing Sydney” and ultimately plans for more growth and includes mention of a second airport.

The Strategy sets out four overarching Goals:

1. A competitive economy with world class services and transport
2. A city of housing choice, with homes that meet our needs and lifestyles
3. A great place to live with communities that are strong, healthy and well connected
4. A sustainable and resilient city that protects the natural environment and has a balanced approach to the use of land and resources

There is a greater focus on Parramatta and Western Sydney in delivering a world class competitive economy through the Global Economic Corridor which is being extended to Parramatta, Norwest and Sydney Olympic Park. A new intense economic hub is proposed around Badgerys Creek and growth in Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown- Macarthur coming from improved transport connections to the rest of Sydney. 

For further reading go Your Future Sydney

New Parramatta Road

New Parramatta Rd is a program to renew the urban corridor from the Sydney CBD to the City of Parramatta. The corridor connects 10 Local Government Areas that are home to almost one million people.

The Parramatta Road Urban Renewal Program looks to the needs of future generations. It will: 

• Create new connections between the communities along Parramatta Road
• Provide housing choice for buyers and renters
• Improve public and active transport connections
• Enhance the road network
• Generate jobs, especially in the West
• Make for a healthier environment.

The strategy proposes that the renewal will be focused in eight strategic Precincts located at Granville, Auburn, Homebush, Burwood, Kings Bay (part of Five Dock), Taverners Hill, Leichhardt and Camperdown.

Following feedback, a final Strategy and Integrated Land Use and Transport Concept will be adopted, the timing of which could be by the end of 2015.  Allowing for a further planning implementation phase, the first new development not already in the pipeline could be expected to commence in 2018.

For further information click here to The New Parramatta Road website.

Sydney’s New M5 tunnels and WestConnex interchange

The Australian and NSW Governments are moving ahead with delivering WestConnex Stage 2, lodging the planning application for higher, wider, flatter and future-proofed tunnels to end the daily battle on the M5 East.

The new tunnels will more than double capacity of the M5 East, with the New M5 tunnels built to accommodate three lanes in each direction and provide another route for traffic from the airport and port precinct to Western and South Western Sydney.

The New M5 will link to a major interchange to be built on a landfill site at St Peters which avoids the need for major residential acquisitions and limits impacts on green space.

The St Peters Interchange will provide access to key roads in the area, such as Euston Road and Campbell Street and the project will include widening these roads as well as a new bridge over Alexandra Canal to Bourke Road. The St Peters Interchange will provide access to the Sydney Airport and Port Botany precincts from South Western and Western Sydney once WestConnex is completed.

For more information go to http://www.westconnex.com.au/explore_the_route/stage_2/index.html

Draft Woollahra DCP 2014

Council has prepared a draft development control plan (DCP) which applies to the whole municipality, including all residential areas and business centres.

The Draft DCP carries over controls from the existing DCPs, but also includes some significant changes to existing policy and substantial new policy for some matters.

Some of these changes include:

• New building envelope and floorplate controls that will apply to dwelling houses, semi detached dwellings, dual occupancies and attached dwellings in most residential suburbs. These controls will replace the floor space ratios used in the current Woollahra Residential DCP 2003 for those building types.
• Additional controls in the Paddington Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) for Oxford Street and William Street, as well as for single storey buildings and timber buildings throughout the HCA.
• Various additional controls and modified controls for the Watsons Bay and Woollahra HCAs.
• Additional excavation controls for most residential areas to limit impacts to adjoining and adjacent properties.
• New flood and stormwater controls to limit the impacts of potential flooding in areas including Double Bay, Rose Bay and harbour foreshore localities.
• New controls for pubs, small bars, restaurants and other businesses that require a licence under the Liquor Act 2007. The controls seek to achieve a more consistent approach to determining trading hours and operating conditions.
• Additional signage controls including controls on the extent of external painting of a building in corporate colours in order to minimise the potential negative impact on the streetscape.

Fo further details visit Woollahra Councils website at http://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/yourplan/draft_wdcp_2014

Shaping the future of the Illawarra

The Minister for Planning Pru Goward and Minister for the Illawarra John Ajaka announced on 9 October the release of the Draft Illawarra Regional Growth and Infrastructure Plan. 

The draft plan follows extensive community consultation, and it aims to expand the region’s economy to create new jobs close to home and form the blueprint for future planning for the region. 

The draft plan sets out six key areas of action: 

1. Transforming places 

An urban renewal plan for the Wollongong Centre will be developed with a key focus on integrating transport between the University, the Hospital and the City Centre. Further work to be undertaken in northern Illawarra to improve liveability in the Northern Growth Corridor. In the southern Illawarra the draft Plan will coordinate opportunities for new growth. The Maldon Dombarton rail corridor will be protected as part of an international trade gateway action plan. 

2. Developing a prosperous Illawarra 

The draft Plan makes growing the economy a priority –maximising opportunities coming from Port Kembla, the University of Wollongong and Wollongong Hospital. An economic action plan will be developed to leverage existing and new opportunities through the on-going development of Port Kembla and to attract new businesses and industries. 

3. Meeting demand for housing 

The draft Plan continues to ensure that there is a wide-range of homes available in West Lake Illawarra and Nowra-Bomaderry through the coordination of land release and infrastructure. There will also be opportunities for new housing in other smaller release areas across the Region. 

4. Providing the infrastructure necessary for the Illawarra’s growth 

Infrastructure plans will be developed for the new release areas of West Lake Illawarra and Nowra-Bomaderry in the short term. Strategic investment in the region’s infrastructure will continue to be a priority for the NSW Government. 

5. Managing the Illawarra’s agriculture and natural resources 

Measures will be put in place to better manage agricultural and natural resources including the protection of drinking water catchment areas, strategic biodiversity assessment of Dunmore Hills and mapping regionally significant agricultural land. 

6. Managing the Illawarra’s environment and heritage 

The draft Plan maps significant heritage and environmental areas in the region to ensure that appropriate controls are in place for new housing and employment land. Work will continue to protect environmentally significant areas of West Dapto and Nowra Bomaderry. 

The draft plan is available for viewing and comment at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/illawarra  

Shaping the Future of the Central Coast

The NSW Government is embarking on a partnership with Central Coast communities that will help shape and define the region’s future.

The Minister for Planning Pru Goward and Minister for the Central Coast and Assistant Minister for Planning Rob Stokes launched on 19 September the Department of Planning and Environment’s discussion paper Your Future Central Coast to kick start the conversation about the Coast’s future, in particular the focus on creating more jobs closer to home.

The discussion paper raises key issues facing the Coast into the future and asks the community for their ideas on how to:

• Build more houses to meet future demand
• Deliver more jobs to meet the region’s needs
• Improve rail and road access to the region
• Balance growth with the protection of the region’s environment
• Protect the lifestyle residents and visitors enjoy. 

Residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the discussion paper in a range of ways, including submitting ideas online and via social media or taking part in community surveys.

The Central Coast discussion paper is on exhibition until 16 November 2014 and can be viewed at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/onexhibition

Proposed amendments to SEPP 65 and the Residential Flat Design Code

Planning and Environment is undertaking a comprehensive review of State Environmental Planning Policy No 65 – Design Quality of Residential Flat Development (SEPP 65) and the Residential Flat Design Code.

A summary of the key features of the proposed amendments include:

• Amendment so that SEPP 65 will apply to residential flat buildings, shop top housing and mixed use developments that include apartments. 
• Three clear reasons why consent authorities cannot refuse a DA if it complies with the design guide for ceiling heights, apartment size (existing) and car parking (new).
• Renaming the Residential Flat Design Code the ‘Apartment Design Guide’ to be used as a guideline to be applied flexibly.
• Key parts of the Apartment Design Guide will prevail over council Development Control Plans to remove conflicts.
• The Apartment Design Guide is outcome based and focuses on performance criteria.
• Car parking requirements have been reduced in accessible locations to improve feasibility.
• Confirm that residential flat building applications need to comply with BASIX .
• Delegation to councils to set up design review panels and amended fees that councils can collect.
• Introduce a minimum size for studio apartments.
• Clearer alternative solutions to specific performance criteria.
• Clearer and fairer guidance about assessing privacy  and building separation.
• Clearer design advice for natural ventilation and daylight.
• Proposed education and support program to ensure  that the SEPP and guideline are used consistently.

Some specific amendments include:

• Ensuring every new apartment has a balcony and access to well designed and functional shared open space.
• Allowing no car spaces in new apartment buildings in certain council areas* within 400 metres of a transport hub like a train station or light rail stop.
• More flexibility around design to suit particular sites.
• A minimum size of 35sqm for studio apartments.
• New sections dealing with the adaptive reuse of buildings to apartments.

For more information go to: 

http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/NewsCentre/LatestNews/TabId/775/ArtMID/1658/ArticleID/234/New-Liveable-Apartment-Guidelines-to-Save-Buyers-up-to-50000.aspx

Waverley LEP approved as modified RSL proposal goes on exhibition

The Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E) approved Waverley Council’s Local Environment Plan (LEP) for the Macpherson and St Thomas Streets neighbourhood centre on 4 September 2014. A revised planning proposal for the Bronte RSL site has been referred to Waverley Council who will progress the proposal to exhibition for public feedback.

A Department spokesperson said the approved LEP reflects Council’s intention to maintain the Macpherson and St Thomas streets neighbourhood centre as a local scale centre serving the Bronte community.

“Council’s LEP as approved by the Department represents a balanced approach and provides certainty for the community and retailers by restricting the size of retail tenancies to 500 square metres,” the spokesperson said.

“The LEP has also been updated to recognise the RSL Club as an integral part of the local community.”

The retail cap is a marginal increase on Council’s original 400sqm proposed limit, and reflects both council officer recommendations and independent reports commissioned by council.

Other modifications made to the planning proposal are:

• Removing access to loading docks and residential parking from Chesterfield Lane
• Reducing building height on Chesterfield Lane from 3 to 2 storeys
• Increasing side set back to comply with local guidelines
• Reducing overall retail and commercial floor space
• Redesigning the Macpherson Street facade

For more information, please click here.

West Oxford Street Precinct Plan

Waverley Council is currently working with the community, the NSW Government Architect's Office, businesses and landowners to develop a plan for the future of the West Oxford Street precinct, as part of a strategic approach to planning for the neighbourhood.

The report brings together the ideas developed by the three design teams who participated in the design charrettes and outlines preliminary short, medium and long-term opportunities for the area to:

• Make it more vibrant, pedestrian-friendly and green improve connections to the Bondi Junction centre and neighbouring Woollahra.
• Take a long-term approach to planning for the needs of the community.

Following the public exhibition period, all of the feedback and comments submitted will be collated and we will look at what ideas in the report should be considered for further testing and which ideas should be abandoned. A revised report will then be considered by Council late in 2014 for adoption.

For more information check out: http://haveyoursaywaverley.com.au/westoxford

Broader Western Sydney Employment Precinct

The Planning Minister Pru Goward announced on the 21 August 2014 that the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government are taking advantage of the Commonwealth’s plans for a second Sydney airport by expanding the footprint of the Western Sydney Employment Area (WSEA) to deliver even more jobs for Western Sydney. 

The Western Sydney Employment Area is the area set aside for industrial and commercial purposes that is serviced by strong road links and infrastructure, and an expanded WSEA will exceed original job projections by delivering land for more than 57,000 jobs. 

The proposed extension will increase the employment area boundary south to Elizabeth Drive and to include land west of the planned second Sydney airport, providing more than 4,500 additional hectares for economic growth in Western Sydney.

Planning Bondi's Future

Waverley Council has revealed a staged concept master plan as part of the development of the Bondi Beach, Park and Pavilion Plan of Management.

Some of the concepts include: replacing the car park on Queen Elizabeth Drive with an underground car park to provide more green and recreation space, more trees and shade, a boardwalk, connection on the coastal walk, and opening up the back of the historic pavilion.

For more information go to Bondi Beach, Park and Pavilion Plan of Management 

Housing diversity policy unlocks affordable new doors in the Growth Centres

On 10 August the Minister for Planning Pru Goward announced a further 2,500 new Western Sydney home sites will be instantly unlocked, following changes to NSW Government planning policy. The changes to the Growth Centres State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) will deliver more housing choice and affordability in Western Sydney’s Growth Centres.

The changes to the Growth Centres State Environmental Planning Policy will allow:

• More housing choices in low density areas by permitting townhouse and villa-style housing, and allowing detached homes on a wider range of lot sizes, where there is good access to transport, shops or community facilities
• Detached dwellings on small lots in medium density zones, so that developers can offer a wider range of more compact housing options at the right price
• Studio dwellings to be strata subdivided from the main house so they can be sold separately
• Standardised minimum lot sizes that are related to minimum density controls
• Streamlined approval pathways to improve the feasibility of more diverse housing types, leading to reduced construction costs
• Standards for subdivision and house design to ensure attractive and liveable communities
• Increased opportunities for home buyers to utilise the Housing Code for 10 day approvals of new homes on smaller lots.

Further information on the Growth Centres planning changes can be found at:
http://growthcentres.planning.nsw.gov.au/

New Homes and Jobs for Sydney's North West

The Minister for Planning Pru Goward announced on 1 August 2014 that the NSW Government will partner with The Hills Shire Council and the community to create three new vibrant centres for homes and jobs along the $8.3 billion North West Rail Link, as part of a major urban renewal program.

The NSW Government will undertake detailed planning, investigations and consultation for three precincts around the new Bella Vista, Kellyville and Showground railway stations, now The Hills Shire Council has nominated them as Urban Activation Precincts.

Key features of the vision for the three new Urban Activation Precincts are:

• Bella Vista: A mixed employment and residential precinct with capacity for up to 4,400 additional homes and 10,500 jobs across 472 hectares. The precinct will build on existing office and warehouse space with shops, cafes and restaurants near the new station. Public parks and streets will be improved and Bella Vista Farm will remain a key conservation and heritage area.
• Kellyville: A vibrant, active centre focused around the new station providing greater choice for people with different housing needs. The precinct has capacity for up to 4,400 new homes and 800 jobs with the majority of new development proposed to be concentrated close to the new station. The precinct will feature conservation areas to protect endangered species, and enhanced walkways and cycle routes between the station and nearby centres.
• Showground: A vibrant mixed use precinct with shops, cafes, restaurants and new office buildings centred around the new station. The precinct has capacity for up to 3,600 new homes and 7,700 jobs across 271 hectares. A green corridor will be maintained around Cattai Creek and Castle Hill Showground will be upgraded as an essential recreational space for the community.