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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 10 July 2008 STRATEGY FOR FUTURE OF SYDNEY-CANBERRA CORRIDOR FINALISED State Plan Priority E5: Jobs closer to homeState Plan Priority E6: A supply of land and housing that meets demandState Plan Priority P6: Increased business investment in rural and regional NSW
The Iemma Government has finalised a 25-year blueprint to guide growth, improve housing affordability and protect valuable natural resources along the regional corridor between Sydney and Canberra.
Planning Minister Frank Sartor said the final Sydney-Canberra Corridor Regional Strategy released today would cover the local government areas (LGAs) of Wingecarribee, Goulburn Mulwaree, Upper Lachlan, Yass Valley, Palerang and Queanbeyan.
“The strategy sets out a plan to sustainability accommodate the growth anticipated for this important region,” Mr Sartor said.
“It aims to protect local character, improve housing affordability and deliver additional employment lands to boost the region’s capacity for new jobs.
“The region is expected to attract an additional 46,350 people by the year 2031 - meaning an additional 25,200 dwellings and 27,800 new jobs will be required.
“Currently, large numbers of people living in the region are commuting to places like Sydney, Canberra and the Illawarra for work.
“This strategy aims to reduce the level of commuting from 26 per cent to around 20 per cent, which is in line with the Government’s State Plan priority to deliver jobs closer to home.
“While parts of the region have vacant employment land, at least 295 hectares of new employment land will be needed to help ensure the region can continue to attract business investment.
“In particular, there are opportunities to develop new freight and logistics hubs at various locations along the Hume Highway and railway corridors, as well as industries that require good access to the high-technology and defence industries in Canberra.”
Mr Sartor said the strategy was also designed to reduce pressure on house prices by ensuring an adequate supply of land for housing.
“Queanbeyan - where the housing market has seen 25 per cent cost increases in the five years to 2007 - will be the site of the largest increase in housing capacity,” Mr Sartor said.
“An additional 10,000 new dwellings have been identified for the area, which is consistent with Queanbeyan City Council’s Residential and Economic Strategy.
“The Cross-Border Settlement Strategy, currently being negotiated with the ACT Government, also aims to provide relief to the Queanbeyan housing market.
“The draft Settlement Strategy recognises the need to ensure that supply does not constrain growth which could affect housing affordability, and this Regional Strategy ensures that this will not be the case over the next 25 years.
“I am currently also working with the Federal Government, Queanbeyan City Council and Canberra Airport to resolve issues to do with aircraft noise to ensure new homes are delivered in a way that allows reasonable growth in aircraft movements while protecting residential amenity.”
Member for Monaro and Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Steve Whan welcomed the final strategy, which he said would ensure most growth occurred around existing settlements.
“Bowral, Goulburn and Queanbeyan have been identified as the region’s major centres and will be the main focus for new housing and employment over the life of the Strategy,” Steve Whan said.
“This will help reinvigorate towns, while protecting the character of rural areas from inappropriate development.
“It will also help to preserve important agricultural areas, which contribute nearly $200 million per year to the region’s economy.
“The Strategy’s approach to rural residential development is consistent with the findings of the recent independent inquiry into rural land use and the resulting Rural Lands SEPP.”
The Strategy also addresses the need for a sustainable approach to the region’s water supplies in a number of ways:
• The Government continues to work with Goulburn Mulwaree Council to provide additional water security through a new pipeline from Wingecaribee Resevoir. • The Strategy requires that sustainable water supply options are in place for all new residential areas in the region before development takes place. • A memorandum of understanding on cross border water supplies has been drawn up with the ACT Government to secure adequate supply in the southern areas of the region and the Strategy is consistent with these principles. • No new residential or rural residential area will be allowed in Sydney’s drinking water catchment unless it maintains or improves water quality.
Under the Strategy, councils will also be required to identify land of high conservation value and develop planning provisions to protect these areas.
The Sydney-Canberra Corridor Strategy is also linked to the State Infrastructure Strategy, with the relevant commitments included.
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