Council rezones 4ha of land for 600 units in Cabramatta

THE rezoning of 40,000 square metres of land paves the way for a comprehensive development to be built in Cabramatta, one that proposes 600 apartments, a large childcare centre, an aged care facility and much more.

The 40,000 sqm site where the development has been proposed in Longfield St, Cabramatta.

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THE REZONING of 40,000 square metres of land paves the way for a comprehensive development to be built in Cabramatta, one that proposes 600 apartments, a large childcare centre, an aged care facility and much more.

At a meeting of Fairfield City councillors on September 25, a motion was proposed to rezone 39,801 square metres of land at 17-21 Longfield Street, Cabramatta. The nine councillors voted unanimously in favour, clearing a hurdle that makes it possible for a developer to proceed with a mammoth project.

It is the first of two large-scale applications put forward to council in Cabramatta East. In September, another detailing the construction of 582 apartments in a 19-storey complex on the main road was submitted for consideration.

The network of buildings proposed to be built at the Longfield St development.

The two properties – currently just proposals – would reflect the growing population anticipated for Cabramatta, and could usher in large-scale apartment developments on the city’s east side.

The rezoning of 17-21 Longfield Street was based on a planning proposal first submitted by FTD Holdings to Fairfield City Council in mid-2015. It proposed using the land to develop a network of buildings up to six-storeys tall.

In all, the complex would feature 500-650 apartments offering one, two and three bedrooms; 80-100 accessible dwellings for people over 55; a 150-bed aged-care facility that would include a high-dependency dementia unit; a 100 place childcare centre, a medical centre and an indoor gym.

Also pitched was a variety of retail businesses taking up 1400-1700 sqm of space, but planners found cause to roll this back to 160 sqm of takeaway food and drink restaurants.

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Estimates suggest the development would generate 246 ongoing jobs – an increase of 70 over the land’s current use – and a further 445 jobs during its construction.

Despite the lift in jobs, city planners said the rezoning wouldn’t generate any more money; in fact, it would generate less.

But they ultimately decided in the rezoning’s favour “because of the wider social benefits to the community of increased housing, care and recreational opportunities”.

Cabramatta already faces parking and traffic challenges, and the advent of such a large development would likely add further pressure.

No street parking has been made available to the development; instead, the onus has been placed on the developer to build car parks on site. How many car spaces will be needed have not yet been disclosed.

Having the land rezoned is one hurdle in a timely process. The NSW government has 28-days to publish a notice in the local paper, after which FTD Holdings can lodge a development application; a process that can take three to six months.