WATERLOO: The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Rob Stokes, has approved changes to current planning controls for the development of the Waterloo Metro Quarter.
Plans to develop the site were on public exhibition from November 22, 2018 to January 30, 2019. Two development applications were proposed simultaneously – a State Significant Precinct Study (SSP) by Infrastructure NSW that sought approval to change planning controls on the site and a State Significant Development (SSD) application by Sydney Metro. The SSD application that focuses on the planned building envelopes is still pending approval.
Last month Inner Sydney Voice’s Nina Serova reported that the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment (DPIE) received 124 submissions from community, government, council and non-government organisations. A range of views and concerns about density, built form, building heights, affordable and social housing, public open space, public transport infrastructure, community facilities, pedestrian and cyclist accessibility and potential heritage impacts were included.
The building heights of 29, 25 and 23 floors, approximately 427 parking spaces and high density with 700 residential dwellings approved are unchanged from the plans originally taken to the community.
Changes to the Metro site plans include:
- The requirement for 5 per cent affordable housing will no longer be limited to 10 years but will be in perpetuity.
- An increase to publicly accessible open space in the Cope Street Plaza from 1,920sqm (15 per cent) to 2,200sqm (17.2 per cent) by deleting a dedicated community facility building with the community uses to be provided in other buildings.
- Introduction of a Design Excellence clause to ensure best-practice design, including an exclusion from a 10 per cent floor space bonus in the State Local Environment Plan 2012.
For more details and to view both the Waterloo Metro Finalisation Report and the Response to Submissions Report by Infrastructure NSW, visit the DPIE website.
Waterloo Redevelopment update
Progress has been frustratingly slow for Waterloo residents in recent months. Despite being expected in March 2019 the state government has not yet lodged its masterplan to redevelop the Waterloo social housing estate.
During a community meeting in August, Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) announced discussions on plans for the future of Waterloo with the City of Sydney (CoS). LAHC did not disclose further details of what this working relationship would be, or what could be expected from it. However, it signals a more collaborative approach between these major stakeholders following earlier criticism by CoS of state government plans for the estate.
After the release of the masterplan for the Waterloo estate back in January, CoS released its own vision of a future Waterloo that included more social and affordable housing than LAHC’s plan, as well as lower density and building heights.
Although this may lead to further delay, we can hope that discussions between LAHC and CoS will lead to better outcomes for residents.
What residents can expect in the future:
- No relocations in 2020.
- Notification six months prior to relocation.
- The redevelopment of Waterloo staged over 15-20 years and focussed first in areas of low density.
What is coming up in Waterloo?
- Waterloo Health Expo and NAB Open Day (free food, coffee & health information), 10am-3pm, Thursday October 31, Waterloo Neighbourhood Centre, 95 Wellington Street.
- Waterloo Community Outreach (one stop access to a range of community, legal and social services), every Thursday starting November 7, 10am-1pm, Waterloo Neighbourhood Centre.
- Waterloo Neighbourhood Day, Friday November 8, 3pm-6pm, Waterloo Green.
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For inquiries, or if you would like to receive community updates, contact Adam Antonelli from Counterpoint Community Services via email wrcd@counterpointcs.org.au or phone 02 9698 9569.
