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COUNCIL DIGS IN
A render of parts of the development proposed by WSU and Stockland.
P
enrith City Councillors have reiterated their concerns about a proposal that would see Western Sydney University land redeveloped into housing. Councillors this week endorsed to make a submission to the State Assessed Rezoning Proposal (SARP) for the Western Sydney University (WSU) Werrington Precinct outlining their concerns about the development. WSU and developer Stockland are looking to rezone 98.7 hectares of land inside the Werrington Precinct to provide residential and non-residential spaces, community facilities, and transport. Council’s submission to the proposal raises concerns that Council believes need to be resolved including employment land and job issues, conflict with Council’s draft Kingswood-Werrington Structure Plan,
planning framework concerns, the provision of acceptable public open spaces, and wildlife management. “The draft submission states Council’s position is that the SARP should not be progressed until Council is satisfied that all the key issues raised and matters identified in this submission are resolved, having particular regard to ensuring a robust planning framework where infrastructure delivery is aligned to growth,” the council report said. Penrith Council has prioritised the delivery of jobs closer to home for the community and to support this prepared the Employment Lands Strategy (ELS) and say the development will impact their ability to deliver this. “Rezoning employment land for alternative purposes would reduce Council’s capacity to deliver the jobs required to meet projected demand, undermining the objectives of the ELS,” the Council report said. “Such an outcome would place Council at
risk of failing to meet its employment targets and would be inconsistent with Council’s long-standing strategic priority of providing jobs closer to home.” Council earlier this year revealed a 20-year vision for Kingswood and Werrington, and the draft Structure Plan accommodates 975 dwellings on minimum 300sqm lots for detached housing and some medium-density terrace type of housing. In contrast, the SARP proposes to accommodate 1,500 dwellings, but when assessed by Council officers they believe the number could be up to 2,696. This including homes on small lots, with minimum lots sizes of 125sqm or 200sqm lots as well as the higher density housing forms. Labor Councillor John Thain is among the most vocal about the university’s plan, speaking passionately at Council on Monday. Full story on » p. 3
Western Sydney University’s plans are raising concerns at Penrith City Council.
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