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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 29 June 2006 FIRST STAGE OF SYDNEY GROWTH CENTRES UNVEILED Almost 40,000 new housing lots will be rezoned for residential development under the first stage of Sydney’s growth centres, Planning Minister Frank Sartor announced today.
Mr Sartor also released a four-year infrastructure program for the north-west and southwest release areas, as part of the NSW Government’s strategy to provide community services as new suburbs grow.
“The Iemma Government will invest $483 million upfront over the next four years as part of a $546 million spending program to prepare these new release precincts for development,” Mr Sartor said.
“This is Stage One of a $7.5 billion Infrastructure Plan for Western Sydney’s growth centres that will match infrastructure investment to the pace of development.”
The Growth Centres Infrastructure Plan includes: - 59 primary schools - 16 high schools - 2 TAFE colleges - 175 kilometres of new and upgraded roads - 11 fire stations - 10 ambulance stations - 4 police stations - New rail line to Leppington and Quakers Hill to Riverstone duplication.
Mr Sartor said a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) for the area would be gazetted shortly, detailing the final boundaries of the growth centres.
“A 560-hectare site – three times the size of Centennial Park – will also be rezoned for environment conservation within the North West Growth Centre,” Mr Sartor said.
“This will ensure that important Cumberland Plain woodland at Shane’s Park is protected.”
Mr Sartor said Sydney’s growth centres will accommodate 181,000 new homes, with the first growth centres block expected to be on the market as early as next year.
“Under the new Growth Centres Commission, the time it takes to get land to the market will eventually be slashed from seven years to as little as three years.”
The North West Growth Centre is approximately 10,000 hectares in area and includes 16 precincts which will contain about 66,000 new homes.
The South West Growth Centre contains approximately 17,000 hectares divided into 18 precincts with capacity for about 115,000 new homes.
The first growth centres precincts to be rezoned for development are:
North West 23,000 lots (Alex Avenue 7000 lots, North Kellyville 4500 lots, Riverstone 8500 lots, Area 20 1500 lots, Colebee 1000 lots, Riverstone West 500 lots)
South West 16,500 lots (Edmondson Park 7500 lots, Oran Park 7000 lots, Turner Road 2000 lots)
“Processes to develop these precincts can begin immediately, because of the availability of water and sewerage services,” Mr Sartor said.
“In order to bring as much land onto the market as quickly as possible, a Precinct Acceleration protocol will be developed for other areas within the growth centres.
“This could allow some development areas to be brought forward, where land owners and industry are prepared to provide the necessary infrastructure.”
Mr Sartor said the average cost of developer contributions towards regional infrastructure in the growth centres has been reduced by 21 per cent, and almost halved in some cases.
“The developer contribution will be reduced to an average $33,000 per lot,” Mr Sartor said.
“The reduction follows more detailed work on the cost of infrastructure, and does not mean a reduction in the level of services.
“This contribution will be used to fund 75 per cent of the cost of new schools, roads, police stations, ambulance services and rail lines.”
Mr Sartor said the taxpayer would fund 25 per cent of the total $7.5 billion cost.
“No one disputes that this infrastructure must be provided if development is to occur.
“This formula provides a mechanism for sharing the cost between the broader community and the beneficiaries of development.
“I believe the level of the contribution strikes the right balance – it’s fair on taxpayers, but won’t stifle development,” Mr Sartor said.
The current ad hoc infrastructure levy applied to industrial development in Western Sydney will be replaced by a new contribution of $150,000 per hectare for industrial land in the growth centres.
The Contribution will not apply to retail and commercial developments.
More information can be obtained from the Growth Centres Commission on 1300 730 550.
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