The Planning Proposal is initiated by the proponent in order to facilitate a new residential concept masterplan for the subject site.
The proposed masterplan has been designed to positively contribute to the surrounding neighbourhood, ensuring good quality design, in respect of bulk and scale and adjoining residences. This Planning Proposal has many public benefits such as improving open space linkages and permeability within the surrounding area as well as providing better connectivity to Norwest Station and to Norwest Business Park.
The main benefits of this proposal are outlined below:
The proposal takes advantage of the proximity to the Norwest metro station which therefore allows the site excellent access to employment opportunities along the Economic Corridor as well as key strategic centres and shopping destinations.
The site is also serviced by suitable bus services including to North Sydney, Sydney CBD and Parramatta, which is set to become Sydney’s second CBD.
The proposal provides a significant opportunity to create a vibrant, well-connected new residential community with an array of housing choice that responds to the changing demographic and housing trends within The Hills Shire and the Central City District that is within close proximity to Norwest Station.
The proposal is consistent with the strategic vision of Greater Sydney Region, supplying additional high quality housing to meet demand from population growth within proximity to transport infrastructure, employment, and facilities, ensuring a 30 minute city is achieved.
The proposal significantly responds to the growing changes within the area and also thoughtfully integrates with the context of the existing locality.
The proposal will provide local infrastructure in the form of additional pedestrian and cycling linkages to and from Norwest station as well as public open space which enhance the central spine of open space within the locality.
The proposal protects high value vegetation, including those from the Cumberland Plain Woodland community.
The proposal results in the retention and enhancement of heritage values on site with the adaptive re-use of the farmhouse and associated curtilage.
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5 Strategic Planning Context
This Planning Proposal seeks to rezone the site, increase the building height controls and amend the heritage map under The Hills Local Environmental Plan 2012. This proposal is supported by a concept masterplan which reflects the desired vision for the area as demonstrated within the Greater Sydney Commission’s ‘Greater Sydney Region Plan’ and the ‘Central City District Plan’
as well as the ‘North West Rail Link Corridor Strategy’ regarding the development of the Norwest Station Precinct, and Council’s
‘The Hills Corridor Strategy’.
5.1 Greater Sydney Region Plan: A Metropolis of Three Cities
The ‘Greater Sydney Region Plan’ (2018) is the Greater Sydney Commission’s key strategic document which outlines a vision over the next 40 years for Greater Sydney and establishes directions to meet the needs of a growing and changing population, as well as broaden land use and transport strategies in order to increase the city’s liveability, productivity and sustainability.
The plan envisions Greater Sydney as a metropolis of three cities:
The Eastern Harbour City
The Central River City
The Western Parkland City
The region plan seeks to ensure that the residents of Greater Sydney live within 30 minutes of their jobs, education, health facilities and other services. This vision is supported by 10 overarching directions with their associated metrics and objectives, based on the principles of infrastructure and collaboration, liveability, productivity and sustainability. These directions include:
A city supported by infrastructure: Provide adequate infrastructure to support population growth to create strong communities.
A collaborative city: Manage the competing needs of a city through the collaboration between the three tiers of government, industry and local communities.
A city for people: Build social and cultural connections and networks by capitalising on local identity, heritage, and cultural values with easier access to services to foster a more resilient and connected society.
Housing the city: Greater housing choice and a minimum of 36,250 additional homes every year is required in addition to creating liveable neighbourhoods close to employment opportunities, public transport, walking and cycling options for communities.
A city of great places: The creation of great places that recognise local characteristics and qualities people value. The delivery of safe, inclusive and walkable mixed use areas that exhibit urban design excellence, connected to social infrastructure and open spaces will enhance wellbeing, a sense of community identity as well as encourage healthy lifestyles.
A well connected city: Allow people to have 30-minute public transport access to one of the three cities and to services in their nearest strategic centre seven days a week. This will be achieved by integrating land use, transport and infrastructure planning. Productivity will also be improved by co-locating jobs and services, as well as improving transport efficiency.
Jobs and skills for the city: Enhance Greater Sydney’s productivity, export sectors and global competiveness to increase the region’s economic activity by requiring greater choice for where development can occur to enable the employment growth of 817,000 jobs by 2036. Locations of businesses, investment and economic agglomerations will be guided by strategic planning.
A city in its landscape: Management of the effects of urban development to protect, restore and enhance natural and scenic landscapes, waterways, coastline, natural areas, tree canopy and open spaces through strategic planning. This will ensure improvements to liveability, creation of healthy places and mitigate the effects of climate change.
An efficient city: Innovative management of water, energy, resources and waste in strategic land use, transport and infrastructure planning to reduce costs, carbon emissions and environmental impacts.
A resilient city: Building capacity in social and ecological systems to adapt and respond to both known and unforeseen impacts, including changes to technology and climate through the use of new city shaping technologies, improving the quality of life and productivity.
The Greater Sydney Structure Plan 2056 is shown in Figure 5.1.
Figure 5.1 Greater Sydney Region Plan
(Source: Greater Sydney Commission)
17-000013 Page 37 The plans outlines that an additional 725,000 dwellings will be required, through land releases, transit oriented development, and urban renewal. The plan also identifies areas for growth and urban investigation.
The Planning Proposal relates to a large, mostly undeveloped site is situated within Norwest, located within the Central River City.
The City is envisioned by the Greater Sydney Commission to transform significantly due to its central location, and unprecedented public and private investment. It is anticipated that the population of the Central River City will increase by 400,000 people over the next 20 years, which will see many suburban environments transition to an urban setting. Norwest is identified as a strategic centre as shown in Figure 5.2. Strategic centres are described as places where opportunities can be created to attract investment, business activity and jobs. These centres are intended to rebalance opportunities for the community, providing access to jobs and services close to home, reinforcing the success of the metropolis of three cities. Strategic centres have the following expectations:
High level of private sector investment
Flexibility, so that the private sector can choose where and when to invest
Co-location of a wide mix of land uses, including residential
High levels of amenity and walkability
Areas identified for commercial uses, and where appropriate, commercial cores
Norwest has a strong agglomeration or cluster of businesses which is important for efficiency and productivity, supporting rapid economic growth. It is identified in the Greater Sydney Region Plan as one of Sydney’s nine major office markets. Stronger investment into strategic centres has been identified in the plan.
The Planning Proposal is consistent with the objectives for Greater Sydney and is supportive of the notion of a metropolis of 30- minute cities. The proposal seeks to increase housing choice within Sydney’s Central River City, and supports the notion of transit oriented development within Norwest, a strategic centre by increasing the residential population within walking distance of the new Metro Station and the employment opportunities within Norwest itself.