Arncliffe and Banksia are to be redeveloped with more than 5000 new homes, mostly high rise apartments, with sections of Princes Highway “transformed into tree-lined boulevards”.
Draft plans have been released for the Bayside West Precincts, including Cooks Cove, where a proposal for 5000 homes was announced earlier this month.
The combined total of 10,000 homes in the three precincts will make it one of Sydney’s biggest new housing areas.
Exhibition of the draft plans for public comment comes two years after Arncliffe and Banksia were declared priority precincts for urban renewal.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the new homes were expected to be built over the next 20 years, with potential for 4100 new dwellings at Arncliffe and 1000 at Banksia.
Up to 5000 new dwellings were being investigated at Cooks Cove, he said.
Included in the “vision” are new shops and business to create 4400 extra jobs and new community facilities, including pedestrian and cycle paths and greenspace.
Mr Stokes said sections of the Princes Highway would be “transformed into tree-lined boulevards”.
The state government would provide up to $10 million for community infrastructure, he said.
High density residential and mixed use development will be concentrated at Arncliffe, on both sides of the railway line between West Botany Street to Wollongong Road.
The rezoning of these areas has been declared a priority.
Banksia town centre, adjoining the station, will be “expanded and revitalised”, which would include developments with shops below and apartments above next to the station.
However, unlike Arncliffe, there will be no large pockets of high-rise.
The eastern side of Banksia station is designated for employment, and the western side for medium density low-rise homes.
Cooks Cove is marked “subject to further investigation”, but a new school is included in diagrams.
The government will investigate imposing a levy, called a special infrastructure contribution, forcing developers to contribute to upgrading infrastructure.
Mr Stokes encouraged members of the community to view the draft plans and give their feedback to help shape the final vision for the area.
“The draft plans show how good planning can make people’s lives better as suburbs grow and change into the future,” he said.
Mr Stokes said the local community was involved early in the planning process, with more than 300 residents taking part in a survey about what they like in their area, and what could be improved in coming years.
“I thank everyone who has provided their feedback and insights...and I hope the community will keep giving their input so we can make these places as wonderful as they can be,” he said.
Minister for Social Housing Brad Hazzard said the draft plans allowed for the rejuvenation of the Land and Housing Corporation site in Eden Street at Arncliffe.
Mr Hazzard said the site would accommodate a mix of new private and affordable housing, boosting social housing by 30 per cent from 142 to 184 homes.
“We have tired old estates and we are redeveloping them, at no cost to taxpayers, to make brand new homes and brand new opportunities for our tenants,” he said.
Bayside Council administrator Greg Wright welcomed the draft plans as the next step in realising the former Rockdale Council’s vision when it nominated the areas for urban renewal.
“I am pleased this project will deliver improved pedestrian and cycle connections,” he said.
The Department of Planning and Environment will hold community drop-in sessions on the draft plans, and an online survey will enable residents to nominate what infrastructure improvements they would like to see.
The department will finalise the plans once feedback has been considered.
The draft precinct plans will be on exhibition until February 10.