Georges River Moorebank: Developers eye land for riverside living
A largely undeveloped area of land in Sydney’s southwest has been eyed by multiple developers who want to create a new culture of riverside living. READ ABOUT THE PLANS.
Liverpool
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An appetite for change has seen a number of planning proposals lodged with a western Sydney council to dramatically transform the Georges River foreshore.
An area of largely undeveloped land in eastern Moorebank is the focus of four planning proposals, all of which are before Liverpool City Council.
They include a bid by developer EQ Riverside to rezone land and amend controls at Lot 6 Newbridge Rd in Moorebank to support about 2000 new apartments, 800 sqm of community facilities, 1700 sqm of retail uses, and ecological and recreational parks.
The site, which in 2015 was approved for a concrete recycling facility, is next to the proposed $52 million Georges Cove marina and currently zoned for environmental conservation.
Within the private recreation zone of the proposed marina, Mirvac is seeking a provision that would support up to 21 terrace dwellings and 353 apartments along the Georges River, as well as 1200sq m of retail space with food and beverage offerings.
Benedict Industries, the applicant behind the marina, is also looking to redevelop land within the broader Georges Cove precinct and establish a mixed-use development called Georges Cove Village.
Its vision for a plot of land at 146 Newbridge Rd — which had been used for extractive and recycling operations since 1992 — includes 126 apartments, a medical centre and 4200 sqm of retail space with grocery shops and a gym.
A planning proposal has also been lodged to enable 602 units, 167 serviced apartments and more than 22,000 sqm of commercial space at the site of the old Flower Power store at 124 Newbridge Rd.
The proposals are now on preliminary public exhibition.
Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest said the vision for the river foreshore was a welcomed opportunity for redevelopment and jobs, particularly in the context of COVID-19.
“I think that the collection of all these proposals is very welcome for the future of Liverpool, for the future of Moorebank,” he said.
“It gives a real practical effect to council’s vision of embracing the Georges River, not turning its back on the Georges River as the community has done in the past.”
Mr Forrest said the community wanted public access to the waterfront instead of industrial facilities along the river.
“What they want is walking pathways, bicycle lanes, public access, grassed areas and an opportunity for some cafes and some redevelopment.”
But to achieve that, “someone’s got to pay for the remediation”, he said.
“You find a way to remove the approval for the concrete crushing plant and instead you look to approving a development of a combination of commercial facilities and residential facilities.”