The NSW Government is expanding its Transport Oriented Development planning reforms, adding six additional stations to the current 31.
The six new stations are Cardiff, Cockle Creek, Belmore, Lakemba, Punchbowl and Woy Woy. These stations were all suggested by councils for inclusion.
In December last year the government announced the Transport Oriented Development State Environmental Planning Policy (TOD SEPP) which identified 31 stations across 13 local government areas around which new housing is to be located within 400m. The government said the plan is estimated to deliver over 170,000 more homes.
Out of the existing 31 stations, 12 of the 13 local government areas have engaged with the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure to develop housing plans that deliver greater or equal housing numbers than would be required by the original TOD SEPP.
The NSW Government will also work with Wollongong Council to further investigate Coniston and Unanderra as additional stations to be included once further analysis of the water and wastewater capacity is fully understood.
Premier of NSW Chris Minns said for too long housing has been put in the “too hard basket”.
“If we don’t build more houses, young people will up and leave because they can’t afford a home in NSW. And if we lose our young people, we lose our future.
“I want to thank the Mayors and Councils for working collaboratively with the Government. Ensuring we have homes for young people across our state is a shared responsibility.”
Minister for Planning and Public Space Paul Scully applauded the councils that have worked with the government.
“I encourage others to sit down and help us address the housing crisis by working together to find well located housing across the State for young people, essential workers and families who desperately need to access the housing market.”
“The TOD program is part of the biggest planning reforms this state has ever seen and will be a critical tool in meeting the growing demand for housing and improving affordability, especially for young people and families.”
The Property Council welcomed the announcement.
“At this point, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the housing supply and affordability crisis is the single greatest issue impacting people in NSW,” Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson said.
“That’s why we are pleased to see the government’s collaboration with councils on the TOD Program is delivering positive results.
“The addition of six new stations to the list of Tier Two sites is a particularly welcome move and opens up new opportunities to house more families across the state. But more needs to be done to capitalise on the full potential of this landmark planning reform.
“If we are going to be able to combat the housing crisis in any meaningful way, we need to expand the scope and ambition of the TOD Program.”
Ms Stevenson said the NSW Government should expand the Tier Two site area to 800m and increase building heights to a minimum of 12 storeys to deliver more homes close to transport and jobs.
“The misalignment between the policy’s building height and floor space ratio controls means that in many locations, development will not be commercially viable or simply deliver poor amenity outcomes, which is the opposite of its intention,” Ms Stevenson said.
“We’re pleased that more sites have been announced today, particularly in key regional locations, but there is still a major spatial gap in the TOD Program across Greater Sydney.
“To give industry the certainty and confidence it needs to invest, we’re calling on the government to announce a timetable so that industry and the community know when to expect future tranches of TOD sites to be announced.
“It’s also vital that sites selected in future tranches of this program are more equitably distributed, so that more homes are provided right across Sydney and the regions in line with the Premier’s original vision.
“This is not just a task for state government. We are also calling on all local councils to come forward with a list of sites that can accommodate more homes in the most appropriate locations in their communities.”
The government said a majority of TOD SEPP sites will be finalised from April 2024, with over three quarters of sites finalised by the end of 2024.
This master planning and detailed work means that local housing plans will be developed with the councils of Bayside, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Cumberland, Georges River, Inner West, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Penrith and Wollongong.