The Explorer Street site is in Eveleigh, about 2 km south of Sydney CBD and within the City of Sydney local government area.

The site is roughly 2.3 hectares and currently consists of 46 townhouses on Explorer Street, Station Street and Aurora Place that are owned and managed by Homes NSW. The site includes the South Sydney Rotary Park.

Explorer Street rezoning proposal

The Explorer Street, Eveleigh rezoning proposal was on public exhibition in late 2023 for community feedback. It has now been finalised to help shape the future of the Explorer Street site.

We worked with Homes NSW and the City of Sydney to investigate the potential renewal and redevelopment of the site, building on work previously done by Homes NSW, formerly the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC). We also engaged with key government agencies and community organisations.

The Department was responsible for gathering and reviewing feedback received during public exhibition of the proposal, which informed the final rezoning package.

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Homes

Up to 400 new homes, including a mix of social and affordable housing and private dwellings.

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Standards

A range of apartments that consider the needs of the existing and future population and meet higher sustainability and accessibility standards.

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Spaces

Potential for upgrades to South Sydney Rotary Park including new recreational spaces, accessible footpaths, landscaping and tree plantings.

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Streets

Upgrades to Aurora Place and Explorer Street to provide new slow speed shared zones, lighting and street trees with off-street basement parking for residents.

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Culture

Opportunities for collaboration and co-design with locally connected Aboriginal people to inform future building design and landscape outcomes.

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Net zero

A range of ecologically sustainable development features that support the NSW Government's commitment for net zero emissions.

The rezoning will enable:

  • up to 400 new homes, including approximately 200 new social and affordable homes
  • opportunity for enhanced use of South Sydney Rotary Park with updated outdoor spaces for recreation and quiet enjoyment
  • improved new pedestrian connections to the surrounding street network

The Explorer Street rezoning proposal, design guide, consultation report, all finalised documents, and submissions are available on the NSW Planning Portal.

The rezoning amends the Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 to:

  • apply R1 Residential and RE1 Public Recreation zones
  • allow an increase in maximum building height limits between 3 m and RL60.7 m (13 storeys)
  • apply a floor space ratio of 2.67:1 over the residential area, supported by a 10% incentive bonus for design excellence allowing for a total achievable FSR of 2.94:1.

We amended planning controls in response to feedback to:

  • require 50% of floor space to be used for social and affordable housing  
  • protect sun access to South Sydney Rotary Park
  • require design excellence processes in accordance with the design guide.

Find the new planning controls on NSW legislation.

What’s happening next

Residents of Explorer Street are not being asked to move at this time, and there are no changes to current tenancy arrangements. Homes NSW will keep residents informed before any expected redevelopment in the future.

Development will be subject to a design excellence process to deliver the highest standard of architectural, urban and landscape design. 

Future development applications will be assessed, including consultation with the community, before any work can begin.

Resources