Western Sydney Aerotropolis Land Rezoning Plans Revealed

Six precincts of land around the 11,200-hectare Western Sydney Aerotropolis will be rezoned by the middle of next year, paving the way for the delivery of new investment and infrastructure in the region.

The government unveiled its strategy for the first phase of development around the Western Sydney Aerotropolis as part of its ambitious metropolis of three cities plans on Friday.

The aerotropolis will be divided into 10 precincts, with three initial precincts—the Aerotropolis Core, Northern Gateway and South Creek—identified by the government as offering the greatest growth potential.

The first precinct, the 1,055-hectare Aerotropolis Core, is set to deliver 60,000 jobs and 8,000 homes when fully-developed, while the 1,120-hectare Northern Gateway will deliver 22,500-plus jobs and 3,400 homes.

The 1,950-hectare South Creek precinct will primarily deliver public space, restaurants and cafes and community facilities, with limited residential development due to aircraft noise and flooding.

Landowners and developers will be able to apply to accelerate the rezoning of a precinct if the proposal meets the strategic planning requirements set out by the Western City District Plan.

Related: Sydney’s Metropolis of Three Cities

Developer lobby group Urban Taskforce voiced concern that property values had already been driven up by government announcements.

“If the NSW government adds additional state infrastructure charges on top of already-inflated land prices, they risk sterilising the land by rendering development unfeasible,” Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest said.

More details on state infrastructure charges or value-capture contributions are expected by released by next year.

“The sooner we progress these plans, the sooner the development industry can commence the formation and growth of the aerotropolis on the ground,” Forrest said.

The aerotropolis will function as a 24-hour economic hub at the centre of the Western Parkland City—supported by 200,000 new jobs in “resilient” industries like agribusiness, defence and aerospace, health and education. The region is projected to grow by more than 300,000 people by 2036.

The federal and state governments have committed $3.6 billion to road infrastructure in the region as well as the equal funding of the north-south rail link from St Marys to the aerotropolis core precinct at the Western Sydney Airport.

The exact route and stations of the north-south metro rail line will be confirmed next year and is scheduled to open at the same time as the airport in 2026.

NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes said that the plans provide an opportunity for the community to take part in the planning process.

“The aerotropolis will be Sydney’s newest economic hub and will be a 30-minute city, where people live close to jobs, schools, health services and open space,” Stokes said.

A new planning authority will work alongside the recently-established Sydney Metro Authority to share the progressive development and delivery of the aerotropolis precincts.

First images of the Western Sydney Airport were released in October, with work on the terminal scheduled to start in 2022. Major earthworks on Sydney’s second airport has been under way for more than a year.

The draft planning package is on exhibition until 28 February 2020.