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LOCAL LIFE

Western Sydney councils urge housing plan meetings with government

The peak body representing councils in Greater Western Sydney , the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils ( WSROC ), is urging the NSW Government to rethink features of proposed planning changes that WSROC says will jeopardise the state ’ s ambitious housing targets .

“ WSROC is inviting the government to meet with councils to discuss issues such as parking access , domestic waste services and managing urban heat , to ensure that the government ’ s housing plan can be smoothly and effectively implemented ,” said WSROC President , Councillor Barry Calvert .

In December , the NSW Government released a document titled “ The Explanation of Intended Effect : Changes to create low and mid-rise housing ” outlining major changes to housing planning controls — such as floor space and building height allowances — intended to increase the development capacity of land located near to a “ station or town centre precinct ”.

WSROC quickly identified a host of problems with the housing plan that could push up land values , reduce quality of living , worsen traffic congestion — even cause garbage bins to pile up on footpaths and in streets creating safety and health hazards — among other things .

“ WSROC supports efforts by the government to increase housing availability and affordability , provided the outcome is well designed housing that is sustainable - including financially sustainable ,” said Councillor Calvert .

“ We are urging the government to sit down with councils to sort through important details of its plan , such as the government ’ s blanket approach to car spaces across the city .

“ Inadequate onsite resident parking will not result in fewer cars on our roads , but put further pressures on street parking , and the viability of other services such as waste collection .

“ Removing onsite access for waste services in new apartment buildings will see a weekly tsunami of bins into the streets surrounding our train stations , affecting pedestrian safety , parking , and movement of traffic during peak periods .

“ More bins and large waste items such as furniture at the kerbside block footpaths , contribute to local litter and amenity issues , and are difficult to collect without impacting traffic flow .

Western Sydney councils are also concerned that the government ’ s proposals don ’ t adequately address natural and man-made hazards .

“ For example , while the proposed reforms acknowledge the worsening flood risk in Greater Western Sydney , particularly in relation to the

Waste collection bins outside a Western Sydney apartment complex .

Hawkesbury Nepean Valley , they don ’ t address other hazards such as bushfire and heatwaves ,” said Councillor Calvert . “ We are also concerned that the government ’ s proposals do not specify affordable housing delivery or developer contribution requirements — which is particularly concerning given the inevitable uplift in land values within mid-rise housing vicinities .

“ WSROC urges the NSW Government to work with local councils to deliver a more nuanced and fit-for-purpose solution to the current housing crisis .

For full details , see WSROC ’ s submission in response to the plan online at the following link https :// wsroc . com . au / media-a-resources / submissions ? task = download . send & id = 372 & catid = 2 & m = 0 .

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4 ISSUE 106 // APRIL 2024 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT