A new planning proposal will boost local jobs and safeguard employment land in The Hills Shire so local residents can work close to home and public transport.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne said The Hills Shire Council's planning proposal supports Council's aim to bolster Norwest's position as a thriving employment destination, growing from approximately 35,000 jobs today to nearly 65,000 by 2041.
"The Hills has the largest housing target of any council in the state. Our rapid population growth needs local job opportunities to match," Mayor Byrne said.
"Norwest is the primary employment hub for The Hills. This planning proposal only applies to around eight per cent of land in Norwest Strategic Centre, but it would unlock thousands of jobs.
"We will be focusing on industries that create jobs suited to our skilled population, especially in the areas of health, advanced manufacturing, professional, and science and technical services."
The new planning proposal seeks to amend controls that would increase the permitted densities and allow building heights to increase from 10 storeys to a maximum of 23 storeys.
Mayor Byrne said it was critical to safeguard employment land in The Hills in the face of the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).
"This planning proposal is the product of deliberate strategic work by Council. It's supported by robust development controls and a clear commitment to ensure local infrastructure goes hand in hand with it.
"Council's planning proposal won't reduce the already existing opportunities for substantial residential development in Norwest. It will turbocharge employment within a small portion of Norwest so that we can protect local jobs.
"This is very different to the current approach of the NSW Government's Department of Planning, which has resulted in unprecedented, and unplanned growth through mechanisms such as the HDA, low and mid-rise, and affordable housing bonuses. These pathways do not prioritise supporting infrastructure or orderly development.
"The HDA has fast-tracked four proposals in the Norwest commercial core that seek to transform commercial land into apartments. One proposal at 34-46 Brookhollow Avenue has ballooned from 76 apartments to an 800-apartment development after going through the HDA.
"If these HDA declarations proceed, that employment land is gone and you'll never get it back.
"Within the Norwest Strategic Centre, nearly 70 per cent of all developable land within walking distance of the Metro stations is already zoned for residential. This land would already allow for 20,000 new dwellings without needing to encroach on the small areas of remaining commercial land.
"When the NSW Government's planning approach comes to fruition, it will be remembered as a period of overdevelopment driven by insufficient strategic oversight. It's no surprise the development industry is actively supporting these policies.
"It will be future generations who bear the consequences of this lack of coordinated planning, and that responsibility clearly rests at this Government's feet.
"Housing targets must not come at the expense of jobs, essential infrastructure and sound planning."
Council's decision to progress the planning proposal is the first step of a long amendment process. The planning proposal includes amendments to The Hills Local Environmental Plan 2019 and The Hills Development Control Plan 2012, which will be considered by a Local Planning Panel and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. A draft Contributions Plan for Norwest Strategic Centre will also be prepared. Once prepared, these amendments and the draft Contributions Plan will be placed on public exhibition.
