This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
One of Sydney’s largest remaining tracts of Cumberland Plain woodland will be further protected from development under a rezoning plan gazetted by New South Wales Planning Minister Frank Sartor.
Sartor said the new State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Region Growth Centres) 2006 also details the final boundaries of the North West and South West land release areas.
He added that the SEPP gazetted streamlines planning for Sydney’s new growth centres and guarantees a steady supply of land for new homes in Western Sydney, and better designed communities.
“The SEPP also preserves green spaces for future generations, including a 560-hectare site at Shane’s Park that has been rezoned for environment conservation. That’s an area three times the size of Centennial Park. It contains one of Sydney’s largest remaining parcels of Cumberland Plain vegetation.
“This rezoning guarantees the site cannot be developed for residential or industrial uses in the future,” he added.
According to Sartor, about 80% of the Commonwealth-owned Air Services site in Sydney’s north-west is already included on the Register of the National Estate.
“NSW will now seek Commonwealth support for plans to secure the long-term future of the former radio antenna facility, including the possible establishment of a public conservation reserve.
“The final growth centres SEPP also protects the area around Rouse Hill Regional Park as a ‘Cultural Heritage Landscape Area’,” he added.
Sartor said the heritage curtilage over the 74-hectare area would protect views from Rouse Hill House.
“This will help maintain the integrity of Rouse Hill Estate and its setting by restricting adjacent development,” he said. “Precinct planning for the area will also include a range of local and regional open space,”
Sarot said the environmental measures complement the new Western Sydney Parklands, which span 5,500 hectares, as well as 900 hectares of open space at the ADI site.
Sartor said the SEPP gazetted had been amended in response to 750 submissions from the public.
“This SEPP delivers more certainty for existing land owners. The Growth Centres Commission will work with councils to update flood mapping where needed, as part of precinct planning.
“The SEPP maps will be revised as more accurate information is made available,” he dded.
By Kathryn O’Meara
