Big Win for Common Sense as Open Space around Badgerys Creek Airport slashed
Big Win for Common Sense as Open Space around Badgerys Creek Airport slashed
The New South Wales government has almost halved the amount of land set aside as “open space” around Western Sydney’s Badgerys Creek airport, after concerns that landholders would be left with worthless properties. In a move that indicates the current land supply issues for future housing development is not lost on the NSW Government shows great foresight.
NSW government planners have cut the Aerotropolis open space by 42 per cent so that 869 hectares of zoned land will now be acquired for parks and public spaces in fresh changes to the state environmental planning policy.
The move follows a review of open space requirements surrounding Badgerys Creek Airport. In October last year, the state government rezoned all land around the Aerotropolis, the area surrounding the airport at Badgerys Creek.
NSW government planners have cut the Aerotropolis open space by 42 per cent so that 869 hectares of zoned land will now be acquired for parks and public spaces in fresh changes to the state environmental planning policy.
Some landholders have concerns that the designation of open space — such as parks, playgrounds, sporting fields and paths — on their land would see the value of their property plummet.
Under the proposed changes, 244 properties in the Aerotropolis will ultimately be partially or fully acquired over time compared with almost 400 previously.
In documents released this week, the government said it had committed that all land needed for open space would be acquired and that it had reduced the amount of land needed for that purpose by 42 per cent.
The amendments are contained in a new government report, Responding to the Issues, that acknowledges that the main concern for landowners is the impact of rezoning on their land value.
“This report is the first step to address the planning issues [and] provide a foundation to progress other investigations,” the report says.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes accepted community distress over zoning. “Planning a new city is an incredibly complex process,” he said.
“We will still achieve our vision for a western parkland city under these proposed changes while allowing landowners to use their property as they do now.”
Mr Stokes said 95 per cent of homes in the Aerotropolis – the land surrounding the Western Sydney international airport – would still be within 400 metres of open space.
Contentious environmental and recreational zoning, which opponents argue radically devalues land and limits its use, has also been slashed by a third in the Wianamatta-South Creek precinct and rural zoning reapplied.
“Previously permitted land uses will also be reintroduced and the government will consider options for the future of Luddenham,” Mr Stokes said.
The changes were cautiously welcomed by the Property Council of Australia industry group, albeit with reservations. Its regional director for western Sydney, Ross Grove, said the revised zoning was “more realistic and practical”, and acknowledges that “employment precincts don’t have the same open space needs” as housing developments.
However, Mr Grove said more needed to be done to minimise planning red tape, and he criticised the architectural design guidelines. “This is a positive move, but if the Aerotropolis is to be taken seriously as a destination for investment, the industry needs the requirement for design competitions for architectural design competitions to be removed,” Mr Grove said.
The state government changes were based on recommendations made by Professor Ryan, whose report in August highlighted the ill-feeling of many landowners. In her introduction, Professor Ryan used comments from an anonymous Kemps Creek resident of more than 50 years who she felt captured local sentiment.
Closer to Luddenham village, Jennifer Schweers said the majority of her property had been designated for open space, but she had not received any confirmation her property would be acquired.
“It’s just not fair what they’re doing. We need clarity and we need to know what’s going on … it’s very unsettling,” Ms Schweers said.
“My neighbour over the fence has no open space and will be offered whatever for their property — what the government will offer me will be significantly less.
“I think it would be fair that all the landowners should get what their neighbours are getting when they don’t have any open space.
The proposed changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy are now on public exhibition, with the cutoff date for submissions being November 5.
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REFERENCES
- Big win for Aerotropolis property owners as open space slashed
By Martin Kelly
- Open space around Western Sydney Airport almost halved after resident concerns
By Tim Swanston
- Landowners win as airport green space slashed
By Australian News Network
- Landowners win as airport green space slashed
By Daily Telegraph