State Significant Precincts (SSPs) are areas identified by the NSW Government as having state or regional importance due to their social, economic or environmental value.

An SSP must meet certain criteria. It must:

• Be a large area of land (typically in government ownership or control)
• Be important to achieving NSW Government policy priorities, such as increasing housing supply and creating jobs
• Have significant environmental, heritage or historical importance

The SSP process allows for coordinated and streamlined planning of these important areas, with ongoing involvement from the NSW Government.

For more information, visit State Significant Precincts | Planning

The Riverwood Estate is being considered a State Significant Precinct because:

• It is a large site owned by Homes NSW (formerly NSW Land and Housing Corporation, or LAHC) and
• It plays an important role in meeting government objectives, particularly by delivering new social and affordable housing.

Due to these factors, the NSW Government has determined that the Riverwood Precinct is of State Significance.

A rezoning proposal is a formal request to change the planning rules for how land can be used and developed. In this case, Homes NSW is asking the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) to change the zoning and development controls currently set out in Council’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

This process is known as rezoning, and it is used to support large-scale developments that can deliver more homes and community infrastructure.

A Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is a legal planning document that sets the overarching rules for land use and development across the local area. It includes controls for things like:

• Zoning (what land can be used for)
• Building height limits
• Floor space controls

The relevant LEP for Riverwood Estate is the Canterbury-Bankstown Local Environmental Plan 2023 - NSW Legislation.

A Development Control Plan (DCP) is a document prepared by Council that provides more detailed design guidance to support the Local Environmental Plan (LEP). While the LEP sets the overall rules like how tall buildings can be or how land can be used, the DCP focuses on the finer details of how development should look and feel.

For example, the DCP can help guide:

• How buildings appear from the street
• The layout and design of parks and public spaces
• Where trees should be planted
• How streets and pathways support walking and cycling
• How new development fits in with the surrounding area

These controls help ensure that new development creates a safe, attractive and welcoming neighbourhood.

Homes NSW (formerly NSW LAHC) owns the site in Riverwood. Normally, Council assesses and approves or rejects applications for development within the local government area.

In this case, Homes NSW will submit a development application for future development in Riverwood Estate will be processed as State Significant Development Application (SSDA), a process used to help manage complex developments more efficiently.

This means that instead of Council, DPHI will approve the development application for Riverwood Housing Estate.

Although Council will not approve the SSDA, it plays an important role by giving feedback and advice. We’ll help make sure the plans align with our Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) and long-term planning goals. Council’s Riverwood Estate DCP will also assist DPHI in assessing the SSDA.

For more information on how the SSDAs process, please refer to State Significant Development Planning

Council is requesting for you to have your say on the Riverwood DCP. After the exhibition ends, Council will consolidate the community’s comments for further consideration. As part of this consideration, Council will review and aim to address as many of these comments as practical by amending relevant sections of the DCP.

Finally, a copy of the amended DCP and your consolidated commentary will be provided to an Ordinary Council meeting for Council to decide whether to adopt the draft DCP.

Homes NSW will soon begin the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) process and may engage a development partner to help deliver new homes in Riverwood.

Before Homes NSW lodge a SSDA, Council will finalise the DCP. The DCP will guide how new development looks and feels - helping to ensure it creates a safe, attractive and welcoming neighbourhood.

There will be more opportunities for the community to provide feedback during the SSDA process. This process will be undertaken by the NSW Government. For more information on how the SSDAs process, please refer to State Significant Development Planning

You can find all relevant information, including the Draft Riverwood Estate DCP, on Council’s Have Your Say page.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone about the Draft DCP, please contact Council’s Strategic Planning team by calling 9707 5593. We're here to help and happy to talk you through the details or answer any questions you may have.

For any other matters relating to the NSW Government’s rezoning proposal for Riverwood Estate, please visit Riverwood Estate Renewal page for more information.