Canterbury Road Corridor reviews past approvals by former council

Planning of the Canterbury Road Corridor has been put on hold to address excessive development approved by the former Canterbury Council.

A review into the Canterbury Road Corridor will look at excessive development approved by the former Canterbury Council. Photo: Cindy Ngo

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Planning of the Canterbury Road Corridor has been put on hold to address excessive development approved by the former Canterbury Council.

The strategic review was announced last Tuesday night by Richard Colley, administrator of Canterbury-Bankstown Council.

Speaking at the council meeting last week, Mr Colley said a number of decisions have “eroded the integrity” of the Canterbury Residential Development Strategy — the corridor’s guiding plan.

“The former Canterbury council approved development well in excess of the height and scale recommended by the strategy resulting in inconsistent and disorderly development along the corridor,” he said.

“While I understand this may create some short-term uncertainty, it is vital we get the planning for this corridor right for the people who live, work, visit, and travel through this area for the long-term.”

The review is expected to be completed in December this year, and will reconsider recent approvals for development applications along the corridor as well as planning proposals and the draft Sydenham to Bankstown corridor urban renewal strategy.

Specifically the review will make recommendations on appropriate zoning, environmental issues of noise and pollution and traffic issues along the corridor.

Planning proposals that have not received a gateway approval from the Department of Planning and Environment will also be deferred.

Labor candidate for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis welcomed the review.

“Many people, myself included, are concerned that there will be massive overdevelopment, without sufficient investment in new infrastructure or services for our community,” Ms Cotsis said.

“This is a welcome first step, and I hope this will be an opportunity for residents to genuinely have their say in the future of our community.”

Mr Colley has requested council partner with the NSW Government, so the review can be done as quickly as possible.

Mr Colley said he hoped the review would “restore public confidence” in council’s ability to implement the corridor strategy fairly and consistently.

“I would also invite land owners and the community to engage with us as the strategy evolves,” he said.