The Baird Liberal Government has released its final UrbanGrowth plan for The Parramatta Rd corridor, including Taverners Hill. The density of the precinct will increase more than 400%, but there is no new infrastructure to support these new residents.
You can access the Parramatta Road documents here and the Central to Eveleigh documents here.
TAVERNERS HILL
While UrbanGrowth has scaled back their plans considerably due to strong opposition from the local community, the planned density increase is still extreme. There are currently 718 people living in the Taverners Hill Precinct, and this plan will increase that to 3,300.
Despite that, UrbanGrowth's Implementation Plan does not include any significant infrastructure to cater for that dramatic population increase. The plan includes:
- No additional schools
- One small pocket park between Tebbut St and Upward St
- No light rail
- No new libraries of community centre
- No new childcare centres
The infrastructure plan includes mainly ‘embellishments’ to existing facilities to be funded by developer contributions to council.
CHILD CARE
The plan for childcare does not even come close to addressing current childcare shortages, let alone cater to an additional 3,300 new residents. Only 36 additional places will be offered through existing providers, as well as limited additional places for before and after school care.
You can read the full detail of the infrastructure planned for Taverners Hill on Page 37 of Urban Growth’s Infrastructure Schedule.
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
With Sydney facing a housing affordability crisis, delivering affordable housing should be a key objective when increasing housing density in the inner city. This plan has a very low target of just 5% affordable housing. The NSW Federation of Housing Associations has called for a 30% target, which would come a lot closer to meeting the desperate need for affordable housing across Sydney. The affordable housing targets can be found on page 45 of Urban Growth’s Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy.
TRANSPORT
The only increase in public transport is a plan for a rapid bus service along Parramatta Road. This is inadequate and regressive - a point being made by local councils along the corridor. Light rail must be part of this plan and the Minister must ensure it is factored in to any plans for renewal.
If you are interested to read the Fine Grain Study that details street character, building height and setbacks for Taverners Hill, you can find it on page 95.
TRAFFIC AND LIVEABILITY
The whole revitalisation plan is based on reducing traffic on Parramatta Road and making it a more liveable place. However, according to the WestConnex’s own traffic predictions, the imposition of toils on the M4 will result in over 20% more traffic on Parramatta Rd as driver seek to avoid the tolls. Now that the M4/M5 tunnel won’t have entry and exit portals at Camperdown and Glebe, much of that traffic will be pushed down Parramatta Rd – yet UrbanGrowth has ignored the huge impact that Westconnex will have on the local area.
MORE INFORMATION
For detailed information on the UrbanGrowth Parramatta Rd plans, you can find strategy, planning and reference documents at the UrbanGrowth website. A physical copy of the Urban Transformation Strategy and Implementation Kit is available at our office in Newtown - contact us on 9517 2800 or at [email protected] if you would like to arrange access.
CAMPERDOWN
While UrbanGrowth has scaled back their plans considerably due to strong opposition from the local community, the planned density increase is still extreme. There are currently 720 people living in UrbanGrowth NSW’s Camperdown Precinct, and this plan will increase that to 2120.
UrbanGrowth’s Implementation Plan does not include any significant infrastructure to cater for that dramatic population increase. The short and medium term plans include:
The plan includes:
- No additional land for schools to expand
- No additional land for parks, playing fields or open space
- A transport strategy that suggests servicing Camperdown with additional light rail stops at Lewisham and Taverners Hill: this is a 38 minute walk
- No new libraries or community centres
- No funding for new childcare places and no land set aside for new childcare centres
The infrastructure plan suggests small ‘embellishments’ to existing facilities which are to be primarily funded by developer contributions.
- CHILD CARE
The plan for childcare does not even come close to addressing current childcare shortages, let alone cater to an additional 3,300 new residents. Only 49 additional places will be offered through existing providers, as well as limited additional places for before and after school care.
You can read the full detail of the infrastructure planned for Camperdown on Page 44 of Urban Growth’s Infrastructure Schedule.
- HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
With Sydney facing a housing affordability crisis, delivering affordable housing should be a key objective when increasing housing density in the inner city. This plan has a very low target of just 5% affordable housing. The NSW Federation of Housing Associations has called for a 30% target, which would come a lot closer to meeting the desperate need for affordable housing across Sydney. The affordable housing targets can be found on page 45 of Urban Growth’s Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy.
- TRANSPORT
The transport strategy for the Camperdown precinct includes directing residents to additional light rail stops at Lewisham and Taverners Hill. This is a 38 minute walk from Camperdown.
The only local increase in public transport is a plan for a rapid bus service along Parramatta Road. This is inadequate and regressive - a point being made by local councils along the corridor. Light rail must be part of this plan and the Minister must ensure it is factored in to any plans for renewal.
- TRAFFIC AND LIVEABILITY
The whole revitalisation plan is based on reducing traffic on Parramatta Road and making it a more liveable place. However, according to the WestConnex’s own traffic predictions, the imposition of tolls on the M4 will result in over 20% more traffic on Parramatta Rd, as drivers look for alternative routes. Now that the M4/M5 tunnel won’t have entry and exit portals at Camperdown and Glebe, much of that traffic will be pushed down Parramatta Rd – yet UrbanGrowth has ignored the huge impact that WestConnex will have on the local area.
If you are interested to read the Fine Grain Study that details street character, building height and setbacks for Camperdown, you can find it on page 95.
CENTRAL TO EVELEIGH
The Baird Government’s Urban Growth plans include complete redevelopment of the ‘Central to Eveleigh corridor’. This includes the Australian Technology Park (ATP) site, the Eveleigh Railyards and surrounds, and other open space along the railway lines between Central and Erskineville.
There are huge development pressures on this iconic area from Urban Growth NSW, and from privatisation, including the recent sell off of ATP. Development plans at the North Eveleigh site (near Carriageworks and Darlington) include a 20 storey apartment building, which will tower over existing residences.
There are no targets for additional affordable housing, no requirements around sustainability and a serious risk to open space. There are also no guarantees that these new and expanded neighbourhoods will have the critical infrastructure they need such as schools, sporting fields, medical facilities or public transport.
To stop developer greed ruining our neighbourhood, we need to build a strong and active community campaign.
In late November 2015 a communty meeting was held that involved representatives of REDWATCH, Friends of Erskineville, the Alexandria Residents Action Group, the North Eveleigh Working Group, trade unions and specialists in rail and labour, as well as local residents and concerned citizens. One outcome of the meeting was a submisison to the Urban Growth NSW Central to Eveleigh plan that highlighted the community concerns raised in the meeting.
Download a copy of the submission here.
| Parramatta Rd | Central to Eveleigh |
 |
 |
