Opposition to upzone Berala, Lidcombe under NSW Government’s transport-oriented development program

A western Sydney council has labelled plans to bulk up density in two suburbs as premature and proposed alternatives. Find out what they are.

The Berala train station precinct could be transformed.

Cumberland Council has labelled the state government’s proposal to upzone two suburbs premature and ludicrous.

The chamber has largely opposed the second stage of the government’s transport-oriented development program, which lists 31 precincts including Berala and Lidcombe to allow six-storey blocks within 400m of train stations.

The proposal would create 138,000 homes over 15 years and aims to reduce urban sprawl, improve access to transport, create walkable neighbourhoods, public open space, a vibrant night-life and ease the housing crisis gripping NSW.

But in its draft submission the council said it was too early and the government did not provide sufficient consultation or undertake technical studies required for masterplans.

“Council officers believe that the urgency to include Berala and Lidcombe under the transport-oriented development program is premature, as insufficient work or collaboration with council has been undertaken to understand impacts, identify appropriate mitigation measures, and ensure there is alignment with additional dwellings and growth infrastructure,’’ it stated.

A critic of the government’s plan said the suburb would not cope as a new precinct.

It suggested Berala could be the existing R3 medium density residential land to the south and east of Berala station.

Most of the area within 400m of Lidcombe station is already zone for high density and therefore the council wants the government to eliminate it from the plan.

As an alternative, it suggested Woodville Rd corridor and Westmead South precincts could be progressed instead of Berala and Lidcombe.

Our Local Community councillor Helen Hughes said Berala, which has low density housing near the station, “had enough problems” and could not cope with extra residents.

“Berala does not have good public transport,’’ she said.

“To ever chuck in Berala as a suggestion is absolutely ludicrous.’’

She warned the suburb would also fall short on providing services such as medical facilities to support the population surge.

Lidcombe is more developed than Berala but could squeeze in more dwellings if the government has its way.

“The importance of these and other infrastructure … needs to be sorted, settled and under way before anything else then proceeds,’’ she said.

Objections over Berala falling short on being a well-connected town centre with good liveability and amenity were also outlined, and Cr Hughes hit out at government officials for not “getting out and about’’ and talk to the community.

“You need to get out and have a look – they’re not real experts unless you can do that sort of thing and liase with people,’’ she said.

But OLC’s Eddy Sarkis said it was not about getting the infrastructure first.

“Now it’s a matter of getting the increased density that can send a message out to the state government saying ‘OK, we’ve got this many people, we need schools that can cater, we need infrastructure that can cater, we need train services and bus services that can cater’.

“But unless we get that increase we’re not going to get the train service, the schooling and everything else that we might desire in the area to enhance the area.’’

The council says delivering more homes at Westmead near the future metro would be a better alternative than Lidcombe and Berala.

Former Auburn councillor Tony Oldfield “generally’’ supported the council’s draft submission but wanted it to highlight the lack of transport infrastructure in Lidcombe more strongly.

He told the council at its most recent meeting the suburb had lost express trains and “will bear the brunt of the future” with the Bankstown metro to push commuters to use Lidcombe instead.

“Commuters from a lot of the southwest stations will travel to Lidcombe to catch the train from there and that will put pressure on the Lidcombe town centre and the residential streets around it,’’ he said.

Labor councillor Sabrin Farooqui called for more affordable housing in the government’s plan.

Ninety-three people were registered at public forums at Lidcombe and Berala community centres to discuss the proposals.

The council’s Cumberland Local Housing Strategy identifies the need for an extra 28,000 dwellings between 2016 and 2036.

The council endorsed the draft submission, which will be sent to the Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Department, along with Transport Minister Jo Haylen and the opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward.