Burwood council’s bold plan to build 30-storey towers

It’s an ambitious plan to build massive residential towers in an ordinary Sydney suburb. But it is not without its critics.

Massive 30-storey towers in suburban Sydney could be on the cards if one local council gets its way.

The high density housing, earmarked for Burwood in Sydney’s inner west, would make the suburb one of the highest-density suburbs in Sydney.

The plans would increase the population of Burwood to about 15,500.

But there’s a catch.

It is fully dependent on the Metro West project and its Burwood North station being approved.

The Metro West project is a new rail link which would provide commuters with access to the Sydney and Parramatta CBD within 10 minutes, with a stop at Burwood north.

But its future is under a cloud.

The Metro West rail line runs from Sydney CBD to Westmead. Picture: Burwood Council

The NSW Premier has repeatedly refused to guarantee the future of the project.

Chris Minns said on Thursday it “may not be the most popular decision” to review the project, but it was necessary, given costs had blown out from $12 billion to $26 billion.

The Burwood north masterplan cites the metro station as a “catalyst for urban renewal to deliver high liveability and opportunities of the recreation of new places for people”.

“The proposed densities within the Burwood North Precinct are in response to the significant opportunity associated with delivery of the Burwood North Metro station,” the plan reads.

Bold plan

The bold plan includes one 32-storey and four 30 storey-buildings among other low-to-medium density housing which would cater for over 5000 new dwellings.

According to the masterplan “new, well designed high density housing will be focused where there is the greatest amenity, around Burwood Road and the Burwood north metro station”.

“This will assist in preventing the extensive redevelopment in those parts of the LGA which have heritage significance or a significant local character.

The building height limits for the towers. Picture: Burwood Council

An aerial view of the residential housing. Picture: Burwood Council

“Medium-rise housing will transition to the edges of the Precinct to ensure that future development responds to existing sensitive uses and low density residential development.”

Burwood Mayor John Faker told news.com.au that the plan “provides us with the opportunity to deliver on Council’s historical position and policy for the delivery of a new vision for the Precinct”.

Cr Faker said the plan “results in the creation of a liveable, vibrant, sustainable and well planned transit oriented place that delivers community benefit, supports the delivery of investment and jobs and is a vibrant place for our existing and future communities”.

“So you are not getting large scale developments next to homes,” he said.

Burwood Mayor John Faker.

Councillor David Hull.

Under the plan, the tallest residential buildings would be closer to the Metro and Parramatta Road, while buildings of about 10 storeys with ground floor retail would line the high street, Burwood Road.

Buildings of about six storeys would surround the elite private school MLC.

Burwood council last week voted to place the masterplan on public exhibition.

Critics abound

Liberal councillor David Hull is one councillor not on board with the plan.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald “we are putting the cart before the horse with this proposal”.

“We are putting the development first and somehow assuming the infrastructure will take care of itself or magically appear when we have an increase of 15,000 people in our LGA.”

He successfully amended a motion to ask council to extract more information from the government about infrastructure such as hospitals, police, schools and the capacity of the heavy and metro rail lines.

Councillor Ned Cutcher declined to offer an opinion on the plan but described it as “important” and understood that “there was a lot for the community to consider”.

Cr Cutcher said he would be “monitoring community feedback closely”.

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