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Urban Living Network (ULN) covers news about housing developments, retail trends, job locations, density related to railway stations, urban projects on city fringes, strata and planning reforms. We aim to provide real data on trends, housing supply and demographic change while challenging policy makers where their policies are not meeting community needs. ULN is essential reading for all those involved in urban living including politicians, councils, planners, architects, developers, financiers, legal firms, real estate agents and strata bodies.
Tom Forrest
CEO - Urban Taskforce Australia (UTA)
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Summary of the week that was...
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Moving on ...
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It’s happened again, this time at St Leonards South
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Urban Taskforce members are increasingly concerned that irrespective of the good work being done by Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) in the fast tracking of assessments and the new Project Delivery Unit, there is also a growing body of evidence of a trend towards the opposite direction. A trend where the cumulative weight of decisions by DPIE (not by Councils) to intervene to reduce yield, density, height, FSR and thus feasibility or, as was the case of land in the Metropolitan Rural Area and the recent Seniors Living SEPP amendment, the prospects for any development at all.
Urban Taskforce has advocated to Government on issues raised by members concerning:
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Abandonment of key corridor planning strategies
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Substantial watering down of height and density associated with the Crows-Nest to St Leonards 2036 Plan
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The initial letter to Ku-ring-gai Council advising there was no legal obligation to comply with Greater Sydney Commission LSPS assurance letter housing targets (later reversed by the Minister)
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Perfunctory (without consultation with industry) alienation of Seniors Living developments from 13 metropolitan Sydney councils
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Promulgation of a draft Housing Diversity SEPP which, if made, would increase prescriptive controls and would work to undermine the very objectives of the SEPP: increase diversity of housing choice
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Intervening, then delaying the Willoughby Council plan developed and supported by experienced planners as well as Council, for the growth of the Chatswood CBD.
Unfortunately, the pattern appears to be spreading. This time to St Leonards South.
Lane Cove Council exhibited the original planning proposal for St Leonards South in 2018.
After a dreadful decision by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC), which, in-part, brought about the Productivity Commission Review of that body and subsequent substantial reforms to the IPC, the IPC were given another shot at getting right. In the meantime local community activists got active. Council got cold feet.
Council has ultimately determined (and DPIE have now signed off on) heights and density which will test the feasibility of development. While local community groups have declared the final outcome a win for developers, the developers involved certainly do not see it that way.
The heights and density have been cut across the precinct, even from what had been previously supported by Council before the IPC got involved with their decision and review.
Government (first under Minister Goward, then Stokes, the Roberts) supported the development of the St Leonards South precinct. Lane Cove Council also supported this. The industry responded by investing. Then the rug was pulled by DPIE.
Uncertainty and confusion do not bode well for investment, particularly in the current economic climate. In light of the obvious impact of COVID-19, Urban Taskforce continues to urge and the DPIE to be strong in supporting and facilitating District Plan housing and jobs targets for each LGA, and grow in its role as a facilitator of economic growth, starting with ensuring housing growth matches or exceeds population growth.
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New proposal for Clause 4.6 of the Standard Instrument LEP being “actively considered”
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Clause 4.6 of the Standard Instrument was clearly intended to provide a mechanism for flexibility and merit based development assessment. However, court interpretations of clause 4.6 have worked to render this clause ineffective by negating the very flexibility that the clause was supposed to impart.
Back in January the Urban Taskforce, on behalf of its members, wrote to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) raising issue with this current drafting of Clause 4.6 (the provision formerly known as SEPP 1) and providing some recommended improvements to the wording.
DPIE has finally responded and agrees there is a problem - “there has been unintended consequences arising from the current drafting of Clause 4.6.…. a new proposal for varying development standards is being actively considered.”
Urban Taskforce will actively monitor and follow-up on this matter.
Read the Urban Taskforce letter to DPIE on Clause 4.6 here.
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Inspired by chess legend Garry Kasparov “actively considering” his next move.
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Draft Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan
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Last week the Urban Taskforce made a submission on the draft Cumberland Plan Conservation Plan, a proposed SEPP Plan that sets out ‘urban capable’ land, ‘avoided’ land and ‘strategic conservation areas’ across West-South-Western Sydney. The broader Plan also includes a conservation plan biodiversity stewardship/offsetting scheme.
The Urban Taskforce submission, prepared in consultation with our affected members:
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supported identifying biodiversity certified urban capable land but strongly objected to the quantum and voracity of lands excluded from being urban capable
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recommended ground-truthing of areas proposed to be excluded from the urban capable categorisation
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raised issue with the timing and mechanics of the proposed offsetting scheme
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raised concerns with land acquisition costs only being applied to residential development
Read the Urban Taskforce submission here.
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A change in guard at the Urban Taskforce
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On Tuesday Urban Taskforce Chief Executive, Tom Forrest, thanked Peter Daly for his leadership as Chair of the Urban Taskforce and welcomed the election of Peter Spira AM as the incoming Chair.
Peter Daly was a steady, experienced hand providing strategic guidance as Chair of the Urban Taskforce for 6 years. His initiatives to have the Taskforce present the positive aspects of what the top developers provide to our community including jobs, good design and sustainability will continue to be a guiding principle in the ongoing advocacy work of the Urban Taskforce.
New Chair, Peter Spira, has been a loyal friend of the Urban Taskforce for many years. As General Manager of Meriton for over 30 years, Peter was on the Urban Taskforce Executive Committee and served as Deputy Chair until 2014. Peter comes with a wealth of experience in property development, construction, architecture, corporate governance and affordable housing.
The Urban Taskforce members also elected three new Executive Committee members:
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Peter Spira, Consultant
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Lang Walker, Walker Corporation
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Garry Rothwell, Winten Property Group
Urban Taskforce Executive Committee Members (ongoing) are:
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David Ghannoum, Multiplex (Deputy Chair)
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Allen Linz, Rebel Property Group (Deputy Chair)
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David Tanevski. KWC (Hon Secretary Treasurer)
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John Carfi, Aqualand
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Matthew Lennartz, Meriton
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Kevin Nassif, Holdmark
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Richard Scheinberg, McDonald Industries
Read the full Urban Taskforce media release here.
Read reporting on the changes in the Australian Property Journal and Property Observer.
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Incoming UTA Chair - Peter Spira AM
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Outgoing UTA Chair - Peter Daly
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Greater Sydney Commission personnel to move to the Western Parkland City Authority
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Today’s gazette included the ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS (TRANSFER OF STAFF TO WESTERN CITY & AEROTROPOLIS) (NSW) order.
The order facilitates the transfer of positions from the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) and City Deal Delivery Office into the newly established Western Parkland City Authority (WPCA). Initially the City Deal Team and a smaller team working on multi-utilities co-ordination at the GSC will be transferred to the WPCA. The City Planning Infrastructure group, responsible for growth infrastructure compacts, will ultimately be brought across to the WPCA at a later date.
THE WPCA will function as a place based enabler and co-ordinator of growth. The new authority, being led by Dr Sarah Hill, has also been described as having a Project Delivery Unit type role for the Western Parkland City.
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Image courtesy of the Western Parkland City.
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Draft Rhodes Place Strategy
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Last Friday the Urban Taskforce submitted its feedback on the draft Place Strategy for Rhodes.
The draft Place Strategy was the third iteration of draft documents with earlier plans exhibited in 2018/2019 and 2017.
The Urban Taskforce submission criticised the draft Strategy for being overly-prescriptive with concerning reductions to development feasibility for some sites from the earlier exhibited plans. Specific issue was raised with onerous sun access, tower separation (in excess of ADG), minimum car parking, dwelling sizes; and unit mix requirements.
Read the Urban Taskforce submission here.
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Member News
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Walker Corporation’s planning proposal for 280 new dwelling at Appin approved. Read more…
Minister Stokes Media Release, October 14
Billbergia’s NSW Building Commissioner championed project Rhodes Central featured. Read more...
Urban.com.au, October 12
DKO designed Beyond by Fridcorp at Hurstville featured in Domain. Read more…
Domain in the SMH, October 9 and 10 (subscription required)
Mirvac commences work on its latest Green Square project – the 119 unit – Portman on the Park. Read more…
Daily Telegraph, October 13 (subscription required)
Frasers Property Group announces Sarah Abu Dareb as the recipient of Frasers Property Master of Architecture scholarship. Read more…
Architecture & Design, October 15
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