Sydenham to Bankstown Corridor precinct plan dumping a win for community
CANTERBURY Bankstown Council is celebrating after the State Government decided to do away with planned precincts in the city, which would have opened the way for 25-storey towers in the city.
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CANTERBURY Bankstown Council is celebrating after the State Government decided to do away with planned precincts in the city, which would have opened the way for 25-storey towers in the city.
Under the proposed precincts, the city would have had to prepare for 50,000 dwellings over the next two decades with the council arguing the infrastructure is not there for such growth.
Planning Minister Anthony Roberts wrote to Mayor Khal Asfour saying that he “would like to work with your council to identify a co-ordinated approach to deliver new homes and jobs that are well supported by public transport, infrastructure, community facilities and open space”.
“To this end I have requested the department complete a principle based high level strategy in collaboration with the council,” Mr Roberts wrote.
Cr Asfour said the announcement was a “win for our community which will finally have a say in the shaping of our city”.
“We have always stated, the NSW Government’s housing target for Canterbury-Bankstown of 50,000 dwellings over the next 20 years is unrealistic.
“It was using its Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Corridor Strategy to help drive that figure, with no commitment to planning and funding the infrastructure necessary to accommodate such growth.
“I’m proud the minister has finally listened to me and scrapped his planned precincts, which would have allowed 25-storey towers, and is looking to introduce a ‘special contribution plan’ which will see developers help fund roads, open space and parks.
“However, there is still no commitment from the government on meeting its responsibilities to provide for extra schools and hospitals.
“Overall, I am cautiously optimistic this more collaborative approach is a step in the right direction, but we now need the government to do the same with its proposed Sydenham to Bankstown (Southwest) Metro rail project.”
Federal Opposition spokesman for Cities Anthony Albanese welcomed the government’s new policy on the Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Corridor Strategy.
“I welcome today’s announcement by the NSW Government that the Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Corridor Strategy will not be gazetted and that the government will work with Councils to plan the growth of the corridor instead,”,” Mr Albanese said.
“The simple fact is the Sydenham to Bankstown strategy as it previously stood has been a catalyst for the worst kind of developer imposed rezoning proposals,” Mr Albanese said.