Campbelltown North: 33-tower masterplan, 1500 homes rejected by NSW Planning panel

A masterplan which would have seen 33 high-rise towers built over several stages to revolutionise a Western Sydney skyline has been decided. SEE THE FATE OF STAGE ONE PLANS.

Artist impressions of 2 Farrow Rd, Campbelltown.

It was a visionary plan to double the size of a southwest Sydney CBD — but developers behind stage one plans for a major proposal to build as many as 33 high-rise towers across the Campbelltown skyline have had their hopes for the 4900-home community dashed.

The NSW Planning Department this month rejected a bid to revive the planning proposal at 2 Farrow Rd, Campbelltown, with stage one plans earmarking the construction of 1500 homes and more than 25,000sq m of commercial, retail and community infrastructure across the expansive site.

An overview of the plans for the Campbelltown North precinct.

Masterplan blueprints for the Campbelltown North precinct also suggested as many as 4900 homes could be built across nine different precincts as part of the developers plans including a series of mixed-use commercial and residential towers varying from 20 to 36 storeys high, a civic plaza opposite the railways station and community parks with “green bridge links”.

Plans also include a library and Campbelltown North community centre, a new primary school, 450 commuter parking spaces, childcare centres, playgrounds and outdoor sporting arenas, public art, outdoor gyms and co-working spaces.

Hyside Projects Subone submitted the rezoning review application on September 4 last year after Campbelltown City Council failed to indicate its support for the masterplanned development proposal for six high-rise towers.

“The Campbelltown Northern Precinct be will an active and inviting mixed-use precinct connected into Campbelltown CBD,” a planer for the project said.

What the 4900-home community could have looked like.

“Unlocking the potential of an under-utilised industrial site, the precinct has the opportunity to deliver larger scale development, more diverse building typologies, services and amenities.

“It presents opportunities to realise the strategic aspirations for Campbelltown-Macarthur as a Metropolitan Cluster, building upon health, medical and public transport investment.

The developer said the precinct would deliver significant employment especially higher order jobs, and access to goods and services that support increased residential densities.

However, Sydney Western City Planning Panel chair Justin Doyle said while the residential yield for the stage one development would result in 1200 homes and provide housing supply, choice and affordability with access to jobs, services and public transport, “the proposal would reduce the available stock of employment generating lands”.

A new library and other community facilities were included in the plans.

“It is principally for that reason that the planning proposal is opposed by the local council,” Mr Doyle said. “The council also argues that approval of this site for high rise residential development would detract from the demand for similar density development which the council’s present zoning are trying to encourage to rejuvenate the Campbelltown CBD.

“it would also remove the site as the potential location for a large-scale health/education related land use or a business park.”

Mr Doyle said until a “common future” for the site was established by council, the proposal would not be supported.