NEW POLICY TARGETS KEY URBAN
PRECINCTS FOR RENEWAL
Maps have today been published
showing the boundaries of the first three areas to be investigated for
revitalisation and renewal by the NSW Government.
Minister for Planning, Tony
Kelly, said the maps are part of the new Urban Renewal State Environmental
Planning Policy (SEPP).
“The aim is to create
revitalised and more vibrant centres, with a broader range of housing and
employment options, which are located near public transport and other existing
or planned infrastructure,” the Minister said.
“The SEPP will play an important
role in delivering high-quality urban renewal, which is expected to supply an
increasing number of housing and jobs in both Sydney and regional areas in
coming decades.”
Newcastle CBD,
Redfern-Waterloo and the Granville town centre are the first three precincts
identified for renewal.
Mr Kelly said the maps show the
areas around these centres which will be investigated as potential precincts.
“However, it doesn’t necessarily
mean planning rules will change in all streets within the boundaries,” the
Minister said.
“Implementation of the SEPP will
involve a planning study for each precinct being publicly exhibited for a
minimum of 30-days.
“The Sydney Metropolitan
Development Authority will study Redfern-Waterloo and Granville precincts,
while the Department of Planning will lead the Newcastle study, with the
relevant local council.
“Each study will look at a wide
range of issues such as infrastructure capacity, traffic and flood modeling,
urban design outcomes, landscaping, environmental issues and economic and
social factors.
“The SEPP will be the key to
achieving the housing and employment targets in the Metropolitan Plan and
Regional Strategies, building on the strengths of each location, transforming
under-used or dilapidated areas, boosting local economies and providing a mix
of uses and activities which meet the needs of the community and attract
newcomers.”
While Newcastle,
Redfern-Waterloo and Granville have been chosen as the first three precincts
using the new SEPP, other suitable precincts will be included in the future.
Typically, a potential urban
renewal precinct will be within one kilometre of a transport hub such as a
railway station. A guideline setting out the criteria for precinct selection
will be published shortly.
Relevant consent authorities
(usually councils) must not, while a precinct is being investigated, approve
projects valued at more than $5 million unless they are consistent with urban
renewal objectives.
Source: Minister’s media release of 15 December 2010
You
can find more details at: Urban
Renewal SEPP and precinct maps published. Also on 16 December 2010 the NSW Government has released the Metro Strategy – more information can be
found at: New Metropolitan
Plan for Sydney 2036
On
17 December two NSW statutory instruments were published on the NSW legislation
website bringing them into effect:
The
first instrument was the Growth
Centres (Development Corporations) Amendment (Sydney Metropolitan Development
Authority) Order 2010 (2010-752) , this adds the SMDA as an Authority in
the 1st Schedule of the GROWTH
CENTRES (DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS) ACT 1974. The SMDA is now formally in existence
under the Growth Centres (Development Corporations) Act 1974.
The
second instrument Public
Sector Employment and Management (Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority)
Order 2010 (2010-747) establishes The Office of the Sydney Metropolitan
Development Authority as a Division of the Government Service responsible to
the Minister for Planning, transfers some staff from the Office of the RWA to
the Office of the SMDA.
The
instrument states “ All branches (other than the group of staff who, in the opinion of the Director-General
of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, are principally involved in the
Redfern Aboriginal Employment Program) are removed from the Office of the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority and added to the Office of the Sydney Metropolitan
Development Authority”.