Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould has welcome…

Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould has welcomed the decision of the Strategic Planning Panel of the Sydney Western City to not proceed with a Planning Proposal at Brooks Point Road, Appin without the infrastructure plan in place.

In considering the request for a Rezoning Review, the Panel recognised the issues identified by Council staff, the Local Planning Panel and the decisions of the Council, and supported the need for fully funded infrastructure before rezoning.

Mayor Gould noted, “I am pleased that the concerns made by Council have been heard, and the decision of both the elected Council and the Local Planning Panel has been upheld in regard to the Brooks Point Road proposal.”

“While we recognise the need for housing, Council considers this project to be premature without the necessary infrastructure and sequencing plans in place for the Appin growth area, and Council has consistently raised concerns around the issues that were the basis for the Strategic Planning Panels decisions.” 

“The Panel noted that the proposal has no site-specific merit, as Sydney Water has ‘not adequately demonstrated’ the capacity for wastewater servicing in the next five to 10 years. Delays by Sydney Water in providing wastewater servicing has already caused significant issues in the Wilton Growth Area and has resulted in a farcical situation where the effluent from the new developments has to be physically trucked out daily.”

“This decision confirms Council’s position is right, that a fully funded infrastructure plan linked to the delivery of homes must be in place before any approvals are made to rezone land.”

Council initially received the draft Planning Proposal in 2023, seeking to rezone land on Brooks Point Road, Appin, for residential development and conservation of land identified for conservation under the Cumberland Plan Conservation Plan. At its meeting in November 2023, Council resolved not to support it, considering the project premature without infrastructure and sequencing plans in place.

Following Council’s resolution, the proponent requested a rezoning review of the planning proposal from the NSW Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) and the planning proposal was reviewed by the Strategic Planning Panel of the Sydney Western City on 27 March 2024. The decision was made by a panel comprised of four State government appointed planning experts.

The decision of the Strategic Planning Panel is final and there are no further opportunities for this proposal to be reconsidered or challenged on its merits. The proponent may lodge a new planning proposal in the future once the site-specific issues can be resolved.

The site is 39 hectares and is located to the south of Appin village. It is bound by Appin Road to the east, Ousedale Creek to the west, residential development to the north, and Brooks Point Road to the south.