The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that the planned high-rise skyline of Parramatta will need to be redrawn after a state government decision to preserve a public square from over-shadowing.
According to the source, the former Parramatta Council had attempted to weaken rules preventing over-shadowing around Parramatta Square which is set to see a development boom.
According to The SMH, The decision to reimpose stricter standards about preserving public space from over-shadowing was made in response to the planned Greenway tower at 48 Macquarie Street, a block away from Parramatta Square, developed by Coombes Property Group.
The proposed tower would exceed 60 storeys, and was recommended for approval by the former council after the council changed rules to allow over-shadowing at a portion of Parramatta Square.
The Urban Taskforce of Australia said the recent release of an update on population growth by the NSW Department of Planning & Environment demonstrates that NSW is now experiencing strong population growth and city centres like Parramatta will need long term planning.
“City centres like Parramatta will fast fill up with lower buildings if the outlook is only for 15 years ahead, compared to 35 years of growth. With robust population growth likely for decades ahead it is important that Sydney and NSW strategic plans look further into the future so that developments are not unnecessarily constrained and future growth can be accommodated within the existing urban footprint.”
“While the new population figures are useful the Urban Taskforce is concerned that it is difficult to get current information on housing completions for the Sydney Metropolitan Area in order to monitor performance. The current data on the Department of Planning & Environment’s website seems to be at least six months old.
"The Urban Taskforce is keen to work with the government to ensure housing data is up to date and available to the public and industry in a reasonable amount of time.”
The Draft Operational Plan for 2016/17 for the new City of Parramatta is now on public exhibition with the community encouraged to have their say on the future of their local area.
The plan is the first for the City of Parramatta since the State Government announced the new council and its boundaries on 12 May.
The draft operational plan draws together the activities and rates and charges of the five operational plans for the area that were the subject of consultation earlier this year by the former Auburn, Holroyd and Parramatta City councils and the Hornsby and Hills Shire councils.
The draft plan sets out the proposed priorities, actions, projects and services that the new Council, which will manage more than $5.5 billion worth of assets, will provide to the City of Parramatta area.
“Importantly the plan captures projects identified within the previously exhibited operational plans of neighbouring councils – Holroyd, Auburn, Hills Shire and Hornsby – where sections of those current and former councils now fall under the City of Parramatta Local Government Area. We are committed to ensuring that projects in these areas continue as planned,” City of Parramatta Administrator Amanda Chadwick said.
“Our aim is to maintain and improve services to all of our neighbourhoods and to deliver tangible benefits from the new Council structure.
“Over the next financial year, City of Parramatta will spend more than $233 million on essential services and $104 million on improving assets and infrastructure as part of Council’s capital budget. This includes $38.2 million worth of upgrades to roads, footpaths and drainage as well as $27.6 million for property development.”
Under the plan the $6.5 million improvements to Wentworth Point Library and Forecourt will proceed, as will work on North Rock’s Childcare Centre ($2.2 million) and the major redevelopment at West Epping Park ($11.3 million).
Community drop-in sessions are proposed to be held at Epping, Newington, Wentworth Point, Carlingford, North Rocks and Telopea/Dundas to enable the community to view the plan, ask questions and provide feedback. Once scheduled, these will be advertised to the community.
Submissions must be received by 4.30pm Tuesday 19 July 2016. Comments will be considered at the Council meeting on 25 July.