Sunday, 31 May 2020
WATERLOO REDEVELOPMENT MOVES FORWARD
The NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) has lodged
a planning proposal
with the City of Sydney to
advance the Waterloo Estate redevelopment
process.
The proposal to renew Waterloo South represents the first of three stages in the NSW Government’s proposed redevelopment plans and accounts for about 65 per cent of the entire
site.
The proposal seeks to renew the existing, ageing social housing estate with new
and better fit-for-purpose housing, retail and community
facilities and access to more and better
quality open space, including two
new parks.
Following release of the preferred
masterplan in January
2019, the original
proposal was revised in response to feedback
from the community
and the City of Sydney Council. Subsequently, LAHC created
three sub-precincts; Waterloo South, Waterloo
Central and Waterloo
North.
The amended proposal also includes
more open space,
wider tree-lined streets,
reduced building heights and expanded bike paths.
Minister for Water,
Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the new proposal includes
the development of around 3000 new properties, 30 per cent of which will be social housing.
“LAHC undertook extensive community and stakeholder consultation and the proposal will include
an additional 100 new social
housing dwellings
in the area,” Minister
Pavey said.
“By deconcentrating disadvantage, we can breathe
new life into local economies
to reenergise social housing
to create vibrant communities, not just buildings
– this is emblematic of the way we
are now delivering social
housing.”
The planning proposal
also maintains the project’s
overall intention – to transform Waterloo Estate into a world-class precinct supported
by the new Waterloo Metro Station that’s
scheduled to open in 2024.
Waterloo South will
deliver much needed, new social
housing while creating the least amount of disruption for existing
tenants. It will also allow the early delivery of two new parks that
will provide over 2 hectares of
public open space.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister
Rob Stokes said Waterloo South demonstrates
the great public space and social outcomes
that can be achieved
from strong collaboration between the State
Government and councils.
“The updated proposal for Waterloo South is a huge win for both the existing
and future Waterloo
and Redfern communities, with more than two hectares
of open space and two new
parks for everyone
to enjoy.”
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said tenants
would remain at the heart of the proposal
which provides easy access
to public transport,
education, key services and open space.
“By bringing
social, affordable and private
housing together,
we create an integrated community and a virtuous cycle that improves
opportunities and outcomes for all tenants,”
Mr
Ward said.
Following lodgement of the planning proposal, the City of Sydney will review
and assess relevant
documents, prior to determining how and when to proceed with statutory public consultation.
LAHC will continue
working with the City of Sydney to ensure the future
stages seamlessly integrate and
enhance the next stages
of
the project.
Waterloo
Estate is the largest
project in LAHC’s $22 billion Communities Plus program
that will deliver an integrated mix of social,
affordable and private housing, in line with the
NSW
Government’s Future Directions for Social Housing in NSW.
The Government’s strategy aims to achieve
more and better social
housing that integrates with local communities and connects
with essential support services such as health, education and transportation,
to support vulnerable citizens.