Submission Guide: 13,000 homes at Westmead South!
The NSW Government has announced a Draft Westmead South Precinct Rezoning Proposal, which is a big deal for housing in this part of Sydney. It will deliver:
Around 13,000 new homes south of Westmead railway station, across both high-rise towers and lower-rise forms of housing
New schools and essential infrastructure
Almost 3 hectares of new public open space
It’s a great plan, and comes off the back of long-term planning for new housing in this area. With Westmead being a significant employment hub for essential workers, as well as having great transport infrastructure with trains, light rail and a future metro station, increasing housing supply here is critical to ensure greater housing affordability and availability. You can make a difference in making sure this proposal goes ahead by writing a submission in support.
How to make a submission
To make a submission, just go to the project website here and fill out the form at the bottom. Tick that you support the project, and add your thoughts in the comments box. Submissions close on the 19th of September.
It’s important to use your own words, but we’ve prepared some points you might want to raise in your submission. Don’t let this limit you- if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, make sure you say that in your submission!
If you run into any troubles, drop us a line at sydney@yimby.au
Things we really like in the plan:
More homes: Capacity for 13,000 additional homes is great, and the government should look at any opportunities to increase this.
Location near transport: With all the investment in transport infrastructure in the area, this is exactly where we should be putting new homes.
Through-site links: The proposed through-site links and the blue-green corridors will help improve the amenity of the area.
Removal of commuter parking: The council plan included a commuter parking station near Westmead railway station. This plan drops it, and that’s great. Land near public transport should be homes, not parking.
Some changes to the plan we’d love to see:
Active transport links: Dedicated bikeways or quietways, particularly along Hawkesbury Road, Good/Pye Street, Houison/Hassall Street, Amos Street, and Austral Avenue (as recommended by supporting studies).
Bus priority: Hawkesbury Road is nominated as a potential future bus corridor, however the PTS only plans for a maximum of 4 buses per hour. Dedicated bus lanes would help make the most of the public transport investment here.
R3 zoning: Dual occupancies and terraces of up to 3 storeys are proposed in R3 zoning. The proposal should permit apartments in R3 zones as well.
Mixed Use Zoning: This could be expanded in:
The ‘Metro Gateway neighbourhood’ (Westmead town centre) to form a larger town centre near the railway station.
The ‘Greater Western Highway’ neighbourhood (Mays Hill town centre) on Houison Street, to properly form a town centre around the Mays Hill T-way stop.
Upper-level setbacks: Complex upper-level setbacks are proposed, which should be simplified to primary setbacks only. Upper-level setbacks reduce communal open space and landscaping on the ground floor, reduce thermal efficiency, increases engineering difficulties and cost, whilst also increasing the proposal’s carbon footprint.
Similar objectives have already been adopted by other planning instruments, such as Victoria’s Mid Rise Code aiming to prevent the ‘wedding cake effect’. Any potential yield loss with revised setbacks should be offset with increased height and FSR.
