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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 13 November 2007 WORK BEGINS ON SYDNEY'S NEWEST SUBURB Work officially begins today on Sydney’s newest suburb – the first construction to start in the new North West and South West Growth Centres which will eventually provide a total of 181,000 new homes.
Planning Minister Frank Sartor will turn the first sod at the Stonecutters Ridge development in the Colebee precinct of the North West Growth Centre, north-west of Blacktown.
More than 800 lots are expected to be released at the site over seven years, with the first expected to be on the market within six months.
“The Iemma Government is meeting its commitment to provide a sustainable supply of new homes and jobs for NSW families,” Mr Sartor said.
“The North West and South West Growth Centres are the cornerstones of our plans for land release in Western Sydney, in partnership with councils and the private sector.
“The Government alone is investing more than $500 million upfront over the next four years, as part of a $546 million infrastructure spending program in the Growth Centres.
“Despite climbing interest rates, we will maintain a supply of land to be ready when the market eventually picks up.”
Sixty per cent of the 150-hectare Stonecutters Ridge development will be open space, including the first Greg Norman-designed golf course in Sydney.
Minister Sartor said the project will also feature environmentally sustainable design features, such as the use of recycled water.
“Houses in the Colebee precinct will use recycled water for gardens and toilets and possibly laundry,” Mr Sartor said.
“Together with other measures, it is anticipated that these homes will exceed the 40% minimum water savings target set under the Government’s building sustainability index (BASIX).
“Further, recycled water will also be used to irrigate the golf course.”
The Colebee precinct was rezoned in May 2005 and targeted last year as one of the first precincts to be released to the market.
Medallist will contribute to State and local infrastructure in the precinct, allowing the land to be fast-tracked for sale.
This will include a four-lane upgrade of Richmond Road and intersections for Richmond Road and Symonds Road.
Lots will range in size from 350 square metres to 1,000 square metres.
Other recent progress on land release in Sydney
In May this year, the first draft precinct plans – for the Oran Park and Turner Road precincts in the South West Growth Centre – went on public exhibition.
These precincts will provide a total 12,000 new homes and more than 100 hectares of employment land.
The plans are expected to be finalised soon with construction to start next year.
Planning for other precincts including Riverstone, Alex Avenue and North Kellyville is also well-advanced and rezoning is expected in the next six months.
“These new precincts will create liveable communities for hard-working families, with a mix of housing, jobs, schools, parks, transport and shops,” Mr Sartor said.
“They are also expected to provide 7,700 new jobs for Western Sydney – helping to achieve a key State Plan priority of more jobs close to home.”
Through the Growth Centres Commission, the Government is slashing the time taken to prepare land for release to the market from seven years to as little as two or three years.
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