REDFERN-WATERLOO AUTHORITY REPEAL BILL 2011
Bill introduced on motion by Mr Brad Hazzard.
Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst—Minister for Planning and
Infrastructure, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure
NSW) [4.27 p.m.]: I move:
- That this bill be now agreed to in principle.
Recently I introduced legislation into this House to commence the reform
of the New South Wales planning system. This included the commitment of
the Government to repeal part 3A of the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act. Recently the Government has also announced a range of
further reforms of the planning system that handed responsibility for
key planning decisions back to local governments—back to the community,
and also outlining how truly State-significant development will be
assessed into the future.
Today I continue this reform process with the introduction of the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill. The bill will result in the
cessation of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority [RWA], with planning consent
for developments on the Redfern-Waterloo sites up to $10 million being
transferred to the City of Sydney, and the strengthening of the capacity
of the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority to ensure that the
renewal of this important area for Sydney and New South Wales continues
into the future.
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority was established in 2004 to implement
development and urban renewal strategies to address the long-term
problems associated with social disadvantage in the Redfern-Waterloo
communities. The Redfern-Waterloo Authority was established with
bipartisan support of the major political parties and this Government
will continue its commitment to this important area through the Sydney
Metropolitan Development Authority.
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority has made some significant achievements
over the past six years, with the establishment of positive developments
in the area, and the introduction of important employment and human
service programs. This has been evidenced with the opening of the
National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, the community health facility
on Redfern Street and the key commercial developments at Australian
Technology Park. The Aboriginal Employment Program, which was
established by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, has created over 800
employment opportunities for members of the Aboriginal community, and
this Government included in its recent budget financial support for this
important program into the future.
The Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority was established in
December 2010 to lead timely and orderly social and economic development
of high-quality urban precincts. This new authority will target
nominated strategic locations in the Sydney metropolitan area with the
aim to deliver on housing and employment targets, aligning land use with
transport infrastructure and ensuring the opportunities from
Government’s investment in infrastructure are maximised. The authority
has been developed to capture the positive experience of cooperative
urban renewal at Redfern-Waterloo over the past decade for the benefit
of other strategic precincts in Sydney. The new authority is a
development corporation under the Growth Centres (Development
Corporations) Act and has broad powers to plan and coordinate urban
renewal effort on behalf of Government, in consultation with local
government and the private sector, and also to deal in land, leverage
assets, undertake compulsory acquisition, and to enter into partnerships
with the private sector and local and national governments.
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill 2011 will repeal the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act 2004 and dissolve the Redfern-Waterloo
Authority. The bill will transfer all the assets, rights and liabilities
of the old Redfern-Waterloo Authority, along with certain functions of
that authority, to the new Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority.
The bill inserts a new part 4 into schedule 6, savings, transitional and
other provisions, of the Growth Centres (Development Corporations) Act
1974 to ensure that the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority is
able to take over, as necessary, the role and functions of the abolished
Redfern-Waterloo Authority.
For example, one of the assets being transferred to the new authority is
the subsidiary company Australian Technology Park Sydney Limited
[ATPSL], and clause 17 will ensure that the new authority has such
functions as are necessary or convenient for the purposes of managing
that subsidiary. However, those functions do not include selling or
disposing of an interest in the company, or approving of another person
becoming a member of Australian Technology Park Sydney Limited. The
clause will also enable Australian Technology Park Sydney Limited to
continue to exercise any function that it could exercise immediately
before the repeal of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act 2004. The
ongoing development of the Australian Technology Park will be an
important part of the future renewal in the Redfern-Waterloo area and
therefore it is important that the Sydney Metropolitan Development
Authority, which has responsibility for the Redfern-Waterloo precinct,
is able to utilise this important asset for this purpose.
I am pleased to announce that the repealing of the Redfern-Waterloo
Authority Act also brings to an end the “switching off” of the Heritage
Act provisions within the Redfern-Waterloo area. The unique heritage of
Redfern and Waterloo needs to be respected and preserved, especially
where it is of State significance. The bill does not seek to transition
or preserve this “switching off” mechanism, a move which should be
welcomed by all.
Since its inception the Redfern-Waterloo Authority has played an
important role in planning for the Redfern-Waterloo area. This includes
preparing the Redfern-Waterloo Plan, which sets out the strategic vision
for the improvement of the area over a 10-year period and makes
provision for urban design, human services, employment, development,
infrastructure, land use zoning, public land renewal and related
functions. The Redfern-Waterloo Authority has worked in close
cooperation with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure to ensure
the strategic vision for the Redfern-Waterloo area is complemented by
appropriate planning controls in environmental planning instruments
applying to the land.
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority also determines development applications
for certain developments in the area, under delegation from the Minister
for Planning and Infrastructure. It also manages contributions for
affordable housing and other social infrastructure where developers are
required to make financial contributions as a condition of their
planning approvals. Despite the repeal of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority
Act, these important planning functions will continue to be undertaken.
For example, clause 19 of the bill provides for the continuing
operation of the Redfern-Waterloo Plan with the authority being
specifically charged with implementing the plan.
Consistent with the recent reforms to the planning system, including the
repeal of part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
1979, steps have been taken to return certain planning decisions to the
City of Sydney. For example, the Minister for Planning and
Infrastructure has delegated to the City of Sydney his functions of
determining development applications for development under $10 million
in the Redfern-Waterloo area.
Importantly, clause 18 of the bill continues the operation of sections
30 to 32 of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act, which are provisions
that require developers to make financial contributions towards
affordable housing and other social infrastructure. Under the new
arrangement the City of Sydney will be able to impose conditions on
development consents and the contributions will be payable direct to the
Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority. The authority will then be
responsible for ensuring those contributions are used for the purposes
set out in the adopted contributions plans. Together these measures will
ensure proper urban renewal planning and development continues to be
undertaken for the Redfern-Waterloo area.
Finally, clause 20 will ensure that section 33 of the Redfern-Waterloo
Authority Act 2004 continues to have effect. This provision requires the
Aboriginal Housing Company and other relevant representatives of the
Aboriginal community to be consulted in relation to the area of land
bounded by Eveleigh, Caroline, Louis and Vine Streets in Redfern. This
Government is committed to the future development of The Block. Redfern
is a spiritual home to the Aboriginal community and The Block is
symbolic of both the struggle and optimism for the future of Australia’s
first people.
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority Repeal Bill is an important step in the
ongoing renewal of the Redfern-Waterloo area. Whilst the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority is being dissolved, the Government, through
this bill, is ensuring the ongoing commitment to the renewal of this
important area of Sydney and New South Wales. The bill gives the Sydney
Metropolitan Development Authority the necessary powers and capability
to continue the work initiated by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, and it
will also enable local government to have a greater role, with the
transfer of development consent for developments up to $10 million to
the City of Sydney on the Redfern-Waterloo sites. This change reflects
the ongoing reforms that this Government has introduced to the New South
Wales planning system. I commend the bill to the House.
Debate adjourned on motion by Ms Linda Burney and set down as an order of the day for a later hour.
Source: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20111018034?open&refNavID=undefined