An extra 6000 homes to be built in Riverwood as suburb earmarked as priority precinct
AS a large-scale residential development in Riverwood nears completion, the NSW Government has announced the suburb will be targeted for an additional 6000 houses.
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AS a large-scale residential development in Riverwood nears completion, the NSW Government has announced the suburb will be targeted for an additional 6000 houses.
The final stage of Washington Park is now being built with the last of the apartments, library, cafe and community hub expected to open early in 2018.
In total, the mixed social and private housing development has delivered 750 apartments across five buildings.
But that will only be a drop in the ocean compared to government plans to make Riverwood the latest in a raft of priority precincts.
The precincts are aimed at fast-tracking development and addressing housing affordability.
Across Canterbury-Bankstown there are seven priority precincts that will deliver over 22,000 homes.
Four of these precincts are included in the Sydenham to Bankstown urban renewal strategy which will deliver 35,400 new homes over the next 20 years within the rail corridor.
The move has been welcomed by PAYCE, the developers behind Washington Park.
But last week, Canterbury-Bankstown Council announced that it would be seeking to control the planning of the precinct, in partnership with Georges River Council, to address issues in the State Government’s plans.
“There is no doubt Riverwood is well positioned to accommodate more homes and jobs, but it needs appropriate transport and community infrastructure to support it,” council administrator Richard Colley said.
“We believe our councils are best placed to deliver a new planning vision for Riverwood.”
The department says it is supportive of the councils’ call and have rescheduled a community drop-in meeting on Riverwood precinct until later this year.
In Parliament last week, Canterbury state Labor MP Sophie Cotsis urged the minister of planning to reconsider all priority precincts in her electorate.
“Infrastructure is already lagging behind in my electorate,” she said.
“For residents, (the priority precincts) mean the Berejiklian Government will dictate housing density, rather than the local community.”
PRIORITY PRECINCTS IN CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN
Belmore — 3000
Campsie — 6000
Canterbury — 4000
Lakemba — 3000
Riverwood — 6000
Bardwell Park — still to be decided
Turella — still to be decided
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