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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 7 August 2009 JOBS CLOSER TO HOME IN NORTH WEST GROWTH CENTRE The NSW Government has rezoned land in Riverstone West that has the potential to provide for over 12,000 new jobs in Sydney's North West. Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, said Riverstone West was the first employment Precinct in the North West Growth Centre to be rezoned. “The NSW Government has taken the next step in our long-term plans to deliver more jobs closer to homes in North West Sydney,” Ms Keneally said. “This is another milestone in the planning and development of the North West Growth Centre, which will eventually provide 70,000 new homes to over 200,000 new residents. “The draft Precinct Plan was publicly exhibited in March and April, and was then reviewed by the Department of Planning and the independent Planning Assessment Commission. “As a result of this process, more than 3 hectares of additional conservation zoned land is included in the plan, which adds to the 76 hectares already identified along the Eastern Creek corridor.” Ms Keneally said under the rezoning the majority of the historic meatworkers cottages would retain their local heritage listing. “Under Blacktown City Councils Local Environmental Plan the former Butcher’s Shop on Garfield Road as well as 13 of the 14 Richards Avenue cottages will retain their local heritage listing. “Along with the rezoning the Department has approved a Development Control Plan which recognises the existing heritage cottages.” Ms Keneally said the Development Control plan will also ensure the future civic plaza integrates properly with the Business Park and Riverstone station. “The Development Control Plan outlines what requirements developers will need to meet when lodging development applications within the precinct,” Ms Keneally said. “Part of these requirements will be to achieve a balance between heritage issues, employment opportunities and the required urban design outcomes. “The Council and developers will manage these and a number of other matters during the Development Application stage.” Ms Keneally said that an external peer review into all flooding and water management issues was undertaken in July this year.
“The review found that more detailed investigations are required at the development application stage to address local catchment flooding east of the railway line,” Ms Keneally said. “Additional flood modelling in the Development Control Plan includes amended cut and fill figures that will more accurately reflect the intentions for the area. “The Plan also outlines engineering work needed at the Development Application stage to address the detail of flooding issues.” Ms Keneally said during the public exhibition period a draft Voluntary Planning Agreement between the developers and Blacktown City Council was also exhibited. “The draft agreement proposes the delivery of a spine road through the Precinct connecting Garfield Road in the south to Bandon Road in the north,” Ms Keneally said. “The spine road would be accompanied by a four-lane heavy vehicle route connecting traffic from Richmond Road to Windsor Road, without disturbing the Riverstone town centre. “The draft agreement also includes the new Bandon Road underpass to replace the existing level crossing north of Vineyard railway station.” Ms Keneally said that a draft Voluntary Planning Agreement is currently being finalised by Blacktown City Council and landowners.
IMPORTANT STATEMENT ABOUT POLITICAL DONATIONS New donation disclosure laws which came into effect in 2008 impose obligations on applicants who make a relevant planning application to the Minister or the Department of Planning to disclose all reportable political donations (if any) made within the period commencing two years before the application is made and ending when the application is determined. More information on this law is available at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/assessingdev/donations.asp With regard to this announcement, records on the Electoral Funding Authority website show that landowners, Mastergroup Pty Ltd and Paclib Industrial Pty as well as the project directors EG Property Group made political donations between 2003 and 20071. The Precinct Plan was referred to the independent Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) for advice. The PAC supported the Department of Planning’s assessment of the Precinct Plan.
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