Full list: The second swathe of NSW Government fast-tracked developments
New schools, a high-rise residential tower and the complete overhaul of two western Sydney town centres have all been approved in the stage two of the NSW Government’s fast-track development scheme. SEE THE FULL LIST OF PROJECTS AND THEIR FATE HERE.
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Thousands of objections from the community and calls to turn it into a National Park couldn’t stop the NSW Government from approving the highly-controversial Mirvac development for 600 homes at the former IBM site in West Pennant Hills.
The multimillion-dollar development, which will include a series of apartments and “micro-lot housing” was one of the final proposals determined by the Greater Sydney Commission as part of state two of the fast-track development scheme.
Protecting Your Suburban Environment spokeswoman Jan Primrose said the damage this development will cause to the Blue Gum High Forest and the Cumberland State Forest will be “irreversible”.
Demolishing an employment precinct capable of carrying over 2,000 people for the sake of 300 short term jobs with no ongoing employment does not make economic or social sense.”
Another planning proposal in The Hills — plans for two high-rise towers in Garthowen Cres, Castle Hill — was also given the tick of approval by the NSW Government on Thursday afternoon.
The proposal for 190 units across two residential apartment buildings ranging from 13 to 18- storeys was finalised by the government more than two years after The Hills Shire Council approved the finalisation of the development.
The approval of the controversial planning proposals, which residents and local action groups fear will result in the destruction of the critically endangered ecological communities in the Cumberland State Forest, comes as more than $3.2 billion worth of shovel-ready developments were also given the green light by the NSW Government overnight under its COVID-19 fast track development scheme.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes and Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed a total of nine projects, including new schools and high-rise developments, have been approved in Western Sydney under the second tranche of the accelerated planning program — expected to generate more than 7400 new jobs.
NewsLocal can exclusively reveal a $326 million plan to revitalise the Villawood town centre was approved, as well as a further $173.9 million to be injected into green-lit plans for a facelift of the Fairfield Heights town centre.
Meanwhile, a massive $49.9 million high-rise tower in Parkes St, Harris Park, was approved, generating hundreds of new homes, while a warehouse site in Silverwater Rd, Auburn will be redeveloped into a $6.3 million office precinct.
Ms Berejiklian told NewsLocal the four newly announced projects would deliver more than 2000 homes and inject $500 million into the local economy.
“This is about bringing new life and vibrancy back into these town centres and creating well-connected communities so more people can live closer to where they work,” she said.
Other projects approved under the fast-track scheme include a $43 million plan for a new 44-classroom school at Catherine Field in Sydney’s southwest, as well as a new $48 million, 1000-student school at the Elara estate in Marsden Park and a $36 million public school for 480 students at Estella Rd, Wagga Wagga.
The recently announced $59 million Eastern Creek Retail Centre approval was also included in tranche two.
A $4.5 million Recycling Transfer Facility in Girraween and the $2.6 billion Mirvac Mamre Rd employment precinct were also included in the tranche two approvals for Western Sydney — alongside a major development at Sydney’s Blackwattle Bay, which includes the Sydney Fish Markets, expected to create more than 700 jobs during construction and another 700 following completion in 2024.
A $1.65 million upgrade to the Borg Timber Processing and Manufacturing plant in Oberon — expected to generate a further 20 jobs — was also approved.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes said suburban areas across western Sydney will see new economic activity unlocked by the approved projects.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a shift in economic activity to our suburbs and local centres as more people work from home and avoid commuting into traditional city CBDs,” Mr Stokes said.
“These new town centres seek to create and reinvigorate the existing retail and street frontages, unlocking the potential of our high streets and encouraging the creation of local economies across Western Sydney closer to where people live.”
The $673.2 million stage two expansion of the new hospital in Tweed Valley was also approved by the NSW Government on June 12, providing for 499 beds, 46 emergency treatment spaces, supporting services for health and a skills centre in collaboration with TAFE.
While on June 13, Proposed $7 million modifications to the Enirgi Battery Recycling Facility at Wagga Wagga was given the tick of approval.
The redevelopment included construction and operation of a battery formation plant, an acid mixing facility, increase of water treatment systems capacities, establishment of a second irrigation area, and ancillary infrastructure.
Girraween will be the site of a new $4.5 million waste and recycling transfer facility, which will process 220,000 tonnes of rubbish each year after NSW Planning approved the fast-tracked proposal on June 17. While the Spring Farm Advanced Resource Recovery Technology Facility will also be expanded following a minister approval on the same day.
One of the only proposals to be refused in the fast-track development scheme was a $28.2 million rezoning review refused by Mr Stokes for Noongah and Gwynn Hughes streets, Bargo.
THE COMPLETE LIST OF TRANCHE TWO PROJECTS
APPROVED — Tweed Valley Hospital Stage 2 — $673.2 million
A new hospital in Tweed Valley providing for 499 beds, 46 emergency treatment spaces, supporting services for health and a skills centre in collaboration with TAFE.
APPROVED — Sydney Fish Markets Stage 2 Works —$749 million
Construction of the new Sydney Fish Markets comprising a three-storey building, wharf and boating facilities for fishing fleet servicing, a multipurpose wharf and the capacity for a private-operated ferry stop, retail premises for shops, markets and food and drink premises, business and office premises, multifunctional spaces and areas for exhibitions, events and functions and 417 below ground parking spaces.
APPROVED — Catherine Field Primary School — $43 million
A new school in Catherine Field to accommodate up to 1000 students and support the growing community.
APPROVED — Eastern Creek Retail Centre Lot 1 — $30.3 million
A specialised retail centre with 3 new buildings, uses include an indoor recreation facility, vehicle repair station, food & drink premises, signage zones and 355 parking spaces.
New Public School, Estella Road, Wagga Wagga — $26 million
A new school in Estella, Wagga Wagga to accommodate 480 students and support the growing community.
APPROVED — Honeysuckle – Horizon Lee 5 at Newcastle— $59 million
A multistorey mixed use development with commercial and residential premises to include approx. 105 apartments, with multiple ground floor commercial premises and basement carparking.
APPROVED — Marsden Park Public School — $48 million
The building of a new primary school in Marsden Park to accommodate up to 1,000 students.
NOT DETERMINED — Eastlakes — $200 million
An additional 65 apartments across the site, increase building height on southern site from 2-6 storeys to 4-10 storeys, increase basement parking from 2 to 4 levels, redesign landscaping and public domain areas and design refinements to northern site and internal changes to apartments and retail areas.
APPROVED — Enirgi Battery Recycling Facility MOD 1, Wagga Wagga— $7 million
Proposed modifications including construction and operation of a battery formation plant, an acid mixing facility, increase of water treatment systems capacities, establishment of a second irrigation area, and ancillary infrastructure.
APPROVED — Fraser Drive, Tweed Shire — $15 million
40 additional residential lots (from 156 to 196), remove an existing open space lot, revise the internal road network and staging and reduce the extent of earthworks on the site.
APPROVED — Girraween Waste Recycling Transfer Facility — $4.5 million
Waste and recycling transfer facility with capacity to process up to 220,000 tonnes per annum of co-mingled and segregated pre-classified general solid waste (non-putrescible) for recycling.
APPROVED — Borg Panels Timber Processing Facility Expansion MOD 3 at Oberon — $1.6 million
Modification to improve operational processes and site efficiencies through additional equipment for better separation and removal of undesirable materials found in recycled wood; an enclosed awning permit optimised truck loading and unloading operations; alterations to existing surface water infrastructure; and construction of two new hardstand areas
APPROVED — Spring Farm Advanced Resource Recovery Technology Facility MOD 6 — $350,000
Enables expansion to recover and recycle valuable resources from waste that would otherwise have been sent to landfill, ready to be reused in the economy. 130,000+ tonnes of materials recovered from household waste every year.
APPROVED — Mamre Precinct Rezoning — $2.6 billion
850 hectares of industrial land including protection of a potential intermodal terminal, Southern Link Rd corridor, environmental lands and a double playing field.
APPROVED Fairfield LEP 2013 Amendment No 31 – Villawood Town Centre — $326 million
To facilitate urban renewal of the Villawood Town Centre.
APPROVED — Parramatta LEP 2011 – 14-20 Parkes Street, Harris Park — $49.9 million
To enable increased residential density with public benefits including negotiation of a voluntary planning agreement for $1.6m and improved pedestrian access to Claycliff Creek.
REFUSED — Rezoning of No 45 Noongah Street and No 25 Gwynn Hughes Street, Bargo — $28.2 million
Rezone land to part R5 Large Lot Residential, and E3 Environmental Management, which protects riparian area along Hornes Creek.
APPROVED — The Hills LEP 2019 – 55 Coonara Ave, West Pennant Hills amendment to facilitate residential development — $151 million
A proposal to rezone land currently zoned as Business to Residential and Environmental Conservation to allow up to 600 dwellings and dedication of part of the site for the Cumberland State Forest
NOT DETERMINED — Mary St, Edith St and Roberts St, St Peters. Precinct 75 — $62.3 million
Rezoning to facilitate a creative industry precinct with commercial and residential uses resulting in around 180 new dwellings and 320 new jobs ongoing, a new neighbourhood community centre, new open space, pedestrian and cycle links.
APPROVED — The Hills LEP 2019 – 6-12 & 16-20 Garthowen Crescent, Castle Hill — $47.9 million
Rezone the site to high density residential with an increase in height and floor/space ratio to be accompanied by a Voluntary Planning Agreement for local facilities.
APPROVED — Fairfield LEP 2013 Amendment No 32 – Fairfield Heights Town Centre — $172.9 million
Proposal based on the Council’s “Fairfield Heights Urban Design Study” which seeks to improve the amenity of the town centre by creating a centrally located town centre square, improved pedestrian amenity and introducing a design excellence incentive clause for key sites.
NOT DETERMINED — Ettamogah finalisation Ettamogah Rise Estate – Springdale Heights — $6.8 million
Additional housing delivery and construction jobs, within easy connection to the central hub of Albury. Land release includes additional Low Density Residential lots of 1500sq m.
APPROVED — Amendment to Auburn LEP 2010 to allow additional permitted use at 108 Silverwater Rd, Silverwater — $6.3 million
Converts and re-purposes an existing building to allow a church.