Railway_Digest__February_2018

New South Wales
News
Around Sydney
Population set to swell around south-west Sydney stations
The NSW government has cleared the way for the construction of about
20,000 new homes near six rail stations in Sydney’s south-west.
Following a three-year consultation process, the NSW Department
of Planning and Environment finalised plans in December to rezone
areas around stations from Macquarie Fields to Macarthur on Sydney’s
T8 South rail line.
The most significant changes are set to occur around Campbelltown
and Macarthur stations (located 54.7 and 56.7 kilometres respectively
from Central station). The department expects another 3600 dwellings
to be built in the immediate vicinity of Campbelltown Station in the
next 20 years, with more beyond that. The department is proposing
clumps of high-density development to the north and south of
Campbelltown Station, with no maximum building height.
Around Macarthur Station, the government is planning for 4650 new
homes over the next 20 years. The plans are based around six storey
residential-only apartment blocks, as well as larger mixed-used towers.
The station proposals, which will be given effect through planning
decisions of Campbelltown City Council, are only part of a larger series
of land-use changes in Sydney’s south-west.
The government has not finalised its plans for Glenfield Station (33
kilometres from Central). It is proposing to move Hurlstone Agricultural
High School to the Hawkesbury campus of Western Sydney University, and
use the large block of land the school is on for development.In addition,
there is also no final plan yet for more land release further to Sydney’s
south-west, in an area known as the Greater Macarthur Growth Area.
Both the Glenfield Station and Greater Macarthur proposals should
be finished in 2018.
In relation to the land use changes near the other stations,
Brendan Nelson – Deputy Secretary, Growth, Design and Programs
of the Department of Planning and Environment – said in a statement
that the proposals would maintain the character of the existing areas,
while identifying new opportunities for homes, roads and community
facilities.
“We want to revitalise these areas around key transport
infrastructure and provide a range of housing choice so families and
extended families can live close to one another and near jobs in the
regional city of Campbelltown, and the proposed Western Sydney
Airport,” Mr Nelson said.
Residents raised strong concerns about the lack of commuter
car parking near the stations. In response, the Department said the
proposals did not remove any commuter car parking spots, but nor did
they add to the number of parking spots.
Over the next 20 years, the government expects about 300 new homes
to be built adjacent to Macquarie Fields station (43.8 kilometres from
Central), 1000 new homes at Ingleburn (46.6 kilometres), 350 at Minto
(49.7 kilometres), and 1000 at Leumeah (52.6 kilometres). The plans,
however, envisage more dwellings beyond 2036.
In a statement, the general manager of Campbelltown City Council,
Lindy Deitz, said the revised plans would guide development so that
rezonings could occur.
FEBRUARY 2018
13