Residents, ex-pollies baulk at high density in revised Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Strategy
THE NSW Government is having a hard time selling its revised Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Strategy with residents against “rejuvenating” the corridor with 35,000 homes.
The Express
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CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN is still not sold on the NSW government’s much maligned Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Strategy.
Two years after plans to rejuvenate the corridor were first aired, the Government has released its revised strategy for public comment. Adding insult is that the consultation period will close six days before Canterbury Bankstown has a council election on September 9.
The bones of the urban renewal strategy are still there — 35,000 homes along the rail corridor.
But in the revised strategy some suburbs will take more of the high-rise burden than others.
Hurlstone Park high-rise homes will be reduced from 1000 homes to 100.
Dulwich Hill has also been cut from 3400 to 2000.
But the newly announced priority precincts of Canterbury, Campsie, Lakemba and Belmore will get more.
State Planning and Housing Minister Anthony Roberts also touted a new 13km long linear park from Lakemba to Punchbowl but Canterbury-Bankstown Council has said open space in the plan is “under-supplied”.
Council administrator Richard Colley said he was concerned that the “full implication” of the high-rise density had not been considered.
“(This strategy) is the most significant urban renewal we have ever seen in Canterbury-Bankstown,” Mr Colley said.
“While the investment in the Metro is a wonderful thing for our city, it is not the only piece of infrastructure required to support the suggested growth.”
Ex-Canterbury deputy mayor Barbara Coorey is worried about the effect on the character and history of Canterbury Bankstown.
Ms Coorey said historic streets like Tobruk Ave in Belmore would soon have “apocalyptic” 24- storey apartments.
“I am deeply saddened that as we move to commemorate the centenary in 2018 of the end of the Great War, we are to see ... the demolition of beautifully restored homes built in early 20th century,” she said.
Ex-Bankstown mayor Khal Asfour has also slammed the strategy.
“The Minister may be listening to Dulwich Hill and Hurlstone Park communities but by the time he gets to Bankstown he has definitely lost his hearing,” he said.
The council has asked for an extended consultation period.
Overdevelopment concerns
Local environmentalists are concerned about the impact the Priority Precincts will have on Wolli Creek Regional Park.
Priority Precincts are the NSW Government’s initiative to accelerate planning for homes and jobs in high-demand areas, generally within walking distance of rail transport.
In the Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Strategy, Campsie, Canterbury, Lakemba and Belmore are declared precincts and are expected to accommodate up to 25-storey developments and a combined 16,000 extra dwellings over 20 years.
Riverwood, Turella and Bardwell Park were also recently earmarked for high density development and across Sydney, there are 36 priority precincts in total.
But most concerning for Wolli Creek Preservation Society’s Peter Stevens is that the 800m radius around Bardwell Park and Turella stations encompass almost all of the Wolli Creek park.
The NSW Planning Department has said national parks or other high biodiversity areas would not be considered for urban uses.
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But Mr Stevens said the scale of the development would “impact negatively on that park, its bushland, the quality of the creek, and the native wildlife ... to say nothing of the local residents”.
A drop-in session about Bardwell Park and Turella precincts will be held at Rockdale Library on July 24 from 4.30pm until 7.30pm.
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