Labor has pledged to scrap the priority precincts rezoning process for high-rise development if it wins the March 2019 election.
“If properties have already been rezoned, it’s game over,” acting Opposition Leader and planning spokesman Michael Daley said.
“But, if they are in the planning stages, and there hasn’t been a rezoning, they will be stopped if Labor gets in.
“We will go and look at those developments in conjunction with the councils and in full co-operation with communities.”
A spokesman for the Department of Planning and Environment said the status of the three priority precincts in St George, was:
- Arncliffe-Banksia: The final Bayside West plan, which also includes Cooks Cove, is expected to be finalised next month.
- Bardwell Park-Turrella: Following community and council consultation last year, technical consultants were engaged to undertake investigations. “The department is working closely with council to guide the next steps in the planning process”.
- Riverwood: The department is working with NSW Land and Housing Corporation to ensure their proposal for the Riverwood Estate is suitable for public exhibition.
Mr Daley expanded on Labor’s election promise – initially announced in late 2017 – at Riverwood with Labor candidate for Oatley, Lucy Mannering, and Lakemba MP Jihad Dib.
”Labor will put communities, councils, and the Greater Sydney Commission back at the heart of the planning process where they belong.
”Under the NSW Department of Planning’s published map, nearly 80 per cent of Riverwood will be designated as a high-rise tower precinct,” Mr Daley said.
“Of concern, is that Peakhurst Park is identified as an area that is ‘under investigation’ on the precinct map,” he said.
“The Riverwood area is already struggling with recent cuts to the train timetable and the Berejiklian government’s failure to deliver any of the required new schools, hospitals, or additional green space to accommodate the additional population.”
Mr Daley said the Bardwell Park-Turrella plan “faced an embarrassing revision barely a month after it was first announced, following widespread community backlash”.
“However, the revision has done little to address fears of overdevelopment in the area, as around 90 per cent of Wolli Creek Regional Park remains within the 800m catchment area of Turrella and Bardwell Park stations,” he said.
The department has previously denied development will occur in the regional park, but priority precinct opponents say it will still be impacted.
The department spokesman said the planning strategy for Bayside West, to be released in August, would include a rezoning proposal for Arncliffe and Banksia and a Green Plan to guide planning for open space and the tree canopy.
“This follows announcements by the Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts in April 2018 that the community of Arncliffe and Banksia will enjoy upgrades to two parks and a revamp of the Arncliffe Town Centre”.
The spokesman said negotiations were being finalised to create a new 7000 square metre park next to Arncliffe Station, on the corner of Arncliffe Street and Burrows Street, which will include a dog off-leash park.
