Stockland’s proposal is a major rework of the 2022 plan, which had four towers and everything else up to 13 storeys.
The 2022 approval added 10 per cent design excellence floor space to the original proposal. Stockland says this cannot be accommodated within the 2022 controls, necessitating planning control changes to deliver the approved space. Stockland is arguing its case by showing where it can add the extra floor space on the original 2022 plan. This leads to its new proposal that accommodates the extra space, but also has to provide improved design and solar outcomes.
The resulting plan retains four longer towers that cannot go higher due to flight restrictions and includes nine buildings between 15 and 22 storeys, delivering a height mix similar to the earlier Preferred Masterplan that preceded Council’s 2022 proposal. With design excellence, it delivers more than the 3,000 homes expected in 2022.
Stockland also shows where at least 30 per cent social and 20 per cent affordable housing will be located. Affordable housing provider City West says it will seek funding to have all affordable housing in perpetuity, although only 7 per cent is initially guaranteed in perpetuity. While most of the social housing will be run by Link Wentworth, Birribee Housing will manage 20 per cent of the social and 15 per cent of the affordable housing for Aboriginal tenants.
Stockland is concurrently negotiating with planning bodies and finalising its proposal before a formal exhibition in 2026. The consultation information does not yet include all the details people want to see, such as shadow diagrams, tree plans, private vs public space, car parking entrances and traffic, and how design excellence will be achieved. One consequence of the taller building is more space at ground level with greater building setbacks to the streets and potentially more space for trees.
Stockland is also collecting information on how people may be affected by the development and how any impacts might be mitigated. People’s input on the proposal or impacts at this early stage is more likely to influence the outcome than waiting for the final proposal.
The proposal and details of consultation opportunities can be found at www.waterloorenewal.com.au.
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Geoff Turnbull is the Spokesperson for REDWatch.
