Following consideration of community and…

Following consideration of community and stakeholder feedback on the Draft South Wilton Precinct Planning Cells, Council has endorsed an indicative land use plan to guide future landowner, proponent or State Government initiated planning proposals to rezone land within the Planning Cells for urban development.

Public exhibition of the three South Wilton Cells ran for an extended period of 53 days from 10 June to 2 August 2024 and included a series of landowner meetings. These meetings provided valuable insights into some landowner concerns.

Feedback from the community identified possible changes to the indicative land use plans, and revealed the significant challenges for fragmented groups of landowners to progress in any rezoning process.

The South Wilton Precinct incorporates areas to the East of the Hume Interchange not included in the Bingara Gorge or South East Wilton rezonings.

The three South Wilton cells exhibited were: Cell 1 Employment, including manufacturing, wholesale trade, light industrial and large format retail; Cell 2 Hornby Street, identified as a primarily residential cells with some possible supporting employment and a mix of low and medium density; and Cell 3 Alkoomie Place, identified for large lot residential and environmental living style development.

Mayor Matt Gould said, “Council has been preparing early guidance for the future of South Wilton Precinct in line with the work completed by the State Government in Wilton 2040, which sets out the underlying land use for each precinct across Wilton Growth Area.”

“While we are not currently seeking to rezone the land as there are some issues that need to be resolved, this doesn’t impact a landowner's ability to submit their own planning proposal.”

Council has adopted the South Wilton Cells brochures and will publish them on Council’s website. Council will continue to work with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) to clarify matters raised on the dwelling cap, before any further planning for residential development in the South Wilton Precinct progresses.

Once dwelling cap issues are clarified with DPHI, Cell 2 Hornby Street has the least number of constraints to overcome.

A viable alternative for Cell 1 Employment may be required if access issues are not resolved. There are also some access and bushfire risk constraints for Cell 3 Alkoomie Place and the low scale development for 50 dwellings envisaged in Wilton 2040.

Scoping proposals have been lodged seeking to rezone Cell 1 Employment and Cell 3 Alkoomie Place. Council will consider applying for grant funding to complete land use studies that are critical to planning proposals as they become available.

Council will also make representation to the Department of Education requesting an update on planning and timing for delivery of the K-12 school in Wilton Town Centre.

They will prioritise the advocacy of a connection to Picton Road for Cell 1 with TfNSW and the Minister for Roads to enable employment lands to be fast tracked to ensure jobs closer to home for Wilton residents.