Have Your Say Canterbury Bankstown
Consultation has concluded
We’re preparing a submission to the NSW Government’s TOD and Low to Mid Rise Housing Program and updating the community on how it will affect Canterbury.
The NSW Government’s TOD and Low to Mid Rise Housing Program is part of state planning reforms aimed at building new homes near key train stations, including Canterbury. This involves setting standard rules for zoning, building heights, and density within 800 meters of the station.
While the intent of these NSW Government programs to increase housing supply is good, we do not believe that the best way of achieving this is to propose a blanket approach across the state.
It is noted that in its February 2024 submission to the NSW Government’s TOD and Low to Mid Rise Housing Reforms, Council requested that Canterbury (together with Campsie) be progressed as an Accelerated Precinct, providing sufficient time to finalise a detailed, place-based plan. Despite this request, Canterbury was confirmed as a TOD Precinct in May 2024.
The NSW Government has mandated short timeframes for CBCity to complete any local planning work in Canterbury. In August 2024, the NSW Government released a guide for councils on how to undertake local planning of TOD precincts. This document outlined that the intended changes to planning controls in the TOD precincts has already been communicated to the public and they have therefore recommended a targeted two-week engagement period.
What’s Council Doing?
We’ve been working on a Master Plan for Canterbury that focuses on responsible growth, ensuring that new developments come with the right infrastructure and community benefits. Our concern with the TOD Program is that it takes a one-size-fits-all approach, which may not deliver the best outcomes for our community.
To better suit the needs of our community, we have developed an alternative approach to meet the aims of the TOD and Low to Mid Rise Housing Program for new housing, but more importantly, would also take a more holistic view of planning for Canterbury. Our approach takes employment, open space, community needs, heritage, transport and environmental constraints into close consideration. We believe that this place-based approach is essential for ensuring that Canterbury grows into a place that our community loves and takes pride in.
Council’s Alternative Approach
The NSW Government has given us until October 2024 to submit our feedback. Based on our master plan work, we’ve developed an alternative to the TOD Program that better fits Canterbury’s needs. Our plan focuses on:
In 2019, we completed our Local Strategic Planning Statement Connective City 2036. This document set out a high-level land-use vision for Canterbury-Bankstown, including a centres approach to growth. A centres approach to growth means that most of our future jobs and housing growth will occur in existing centres with infrastructure and transport access.
We have completed master plans for our City’s two largest centres, Bankstown and Campsie. We are also in the process of master planning for three of our local centres – Canterbury, Lakemba and Belmore. CBCity’s master planning program has earned recognition from both government and industry for its innovative approach in planning for jobs growth, sustainability, urban design and managing community risk through orderly planning.
In December 2023, the NSW Government announced the TOD and Low to Mid Rise Housing Program for Greater Sydney, Hunter, Central Coast and Illawarra regions. Their planning reform aims to ensure that NSW is well placed to meet its commitments under the National Housing Accord and statewide housing targets. The program comprises of a series of changes to planning controls to areas within 800 metres of identified train stations and town centres, which in Canterbury-Bankstown includes Canterbury, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl and Bankstown, along with potential other centres (which have not yet been announced) through the Low to Mid Rise Housing Program. The changes include:
From May 2024, the NSW Government began implementing these changes to planning controls in several precincts through the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (Housing SEPP). For precincts where Councils were already undertaking local planning work, the NSW Government mandated timeframes for this local planning to be done. For Canterbury, the mandated deadline is October 2024.
The NSW Government has indicated that if if CBCity’s master planning for Canterbury is not completed by this deadline, the planning controls described above would be implemented and remain in place until the finalisation of any local planning work. The NSW Government also requires any master planning in TOD precincts to deliver the same, or a greater amount, of housing than would be expected under the TOD Program.
More information on the TOD Program and the requirements for Council’s undertaking strategic planning in these precincts can be accessed here.
Place-based approach to renewal within Canterbury
An approach to height and density that is based on the unique aspects of the local context and character of Canterbury, locating new housing in key strategic areas while also retaining and celebrating areas that have great local character.
'Realistic' scenario that takes into consideration existing constraints
The approach to renewal needs to take into consideration existing development and environmental constraints that may make redevelopment unlikely or not possible. This may include strata title, heritage, schools, places of worship, isolated lots, land ownership patterns and flooding.
Providing growth in the right location, rather than a “one size fits all” approach within 800m
The TOD and Low to Mid Rise SEPP apply a blanket “one size fits all” approach to development within 800 metres of stations and centres. Council’s alternate approach provides for height and density in areas that are appropriate, and excludes areas that are not.
Allows for variations in height and density that is context-responsive
Rather than a blanket 6-storeys within the 400m radius under the TOD controls, and up to four storeys under the Low to Mid-Rise Housing Program, an alternative approach will allow for a well-considered and tested built form strategy that locates increased height and density in the right places, while preserving the character of other areas and ensuring that there is adequate built form transition of height and scale.
Ability to align public domain enhancements and community benefits with increased housing
Community infrastructure provision such as a new civic plaza and streetscape upgrades can be targeted in areas that need it across the centre, and development may help deliver these initiatives.
Able to deliver more housing across the centre than the TOD program
An alternative master plan approach to the TOD provides Council the opportunity to provide housing in the right locations, based on Canterbury’s role as a Local Centre - consistent with Council’s long term strategic plans for the City.
Early engagement with the community and landowners.
Council is seeking feedback on our alternative to the NSW Government's TOD Program, based on our master planning.
Timeline item 1 - complete
Early Engagement
Monday 19 September – Sunday 23 October 2022
We sought early contributions and ideas from the community.
Timeline item 2 - complete
Review of early engagement and preparation of technical report
The Canterbury Master Plan was developed by CBCity’s multidisciplinary team of experts, with input from technical consultants and consideration of the early engagement findings.
Timeline item 3 - complete
Transport Oriented Development Program announced
The NSW Government announced the TOD program in December 2023, which took effect in May 2024 for identified train stations. The NSW Government also mandated deadlines for Councils to finalise their own local planning work. For Canterbury this deadline is October 2024. In August 2024, the NSW Government released a guide for councils on how to undertake local planning of TOD precincts. This document outlined that the intended changes to planning controls in the TOD precincts has already been communicated to the public and they have therefore recommended a targeted two-week engagement period.
Timeline item 4 - complete
Engaging with the community on our alternative approach and submission
Wednesday 18 September - Wednesday 2 October 2024
We are seeking feedback from the community on the proposed alternative approach to the TOD program for Canterbury.
Timeline item 5 - complete
Review of submissions
Following this engagement period all submissions and feedback received will be reviewed to refine the proposed approach for planning for Canterbury.
Timeline item 6 - complete
Report to Council
Council’s submission to the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Program and Alternative Scheme for Canterbury was endorsed at Council’s meeting on the 22 October 2024, and you can find more information here.
In accordance with the resolution, Council has submitted the Urban Design, Planning Reports and Supporting Studies to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI). You can access the updated reports and supporting studies below.
As part of the resolution, Council also requested that the NSW DPHI undertake further analysis and community engagement on heritage in Canterbury.
On 29 October, the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces announced that DPHI is now assessing Council’s plans, and the NSW Government will then make amendments to Council’s Local Environmental Plan. You can read the full statement here.
Timeline item 7 - active
Implementation
Council will now prepare and exhibit draft amendments to its Development Control Plan with more detailed controls to guide future development in Canterbury. Once these amendments have been prepared the community will have a further chance to provide feedback on these amendments and have their say.
If you have questions or want to learn more about the event, please contact the Council officers listed below.
| haveyoursay@cbcity.nsw.gov.au | |
| In writing | By post to Mr Matthew Stewart, CEO, City of Canterbury Bankstown PO Box 8, Bankstown NSW 1885 |
The City of Canterbury Bankstown acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land, water and skies of Canterbury-Bankstown, the Darug (Darag, Dharug, Daruk, Dharuk) People. We recognise and respect Darug cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge the First Peoples’ continuing importance to our Canterbury-Bankstown community.
