Urgent Call to Protect Heritage and Sustainable Planning in NSW Housing Reforms
Petitioner:
Ms Marie Healy
| Member:
Shetty, Kobi
| No. of Signatories:
596
| Date closed:
03/06/2024
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
The housing reforms, “Transport Oriented Development” and” Diverse and Well-located Homes”, present an unacceptable risk to strategic, locally-led, sustainable planning, and our diverse areas of urban heritage from Newcastle to Shoalhaven.
The pattern-book approach, with new non-refusal standards, will promote ad-hoc development of benefit to developers, investors and large land-holders, yet offers nothing for our homeless and those on public housing waiting lists.
More permissive standards for multi-dwelling units blocks and manor houses, with reduced landscaping and FSR requirements across widespread areas “some of which will contain heritage items and heritage conservation areas” conflicts with the Department of Environment’s statement that” Heritage includes the places, objects and stories that we have inherited from the past and want to protect for future generations “
The plans will irreparably harm innumerable special places such as Croydon, with areas of rare and state significance and our iconic garden suburb of Haberfield. The built heritage of NSW is a community asset and should be protected, and managed, according to best practice.
We ask the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to urgently take all necessary steps to:
a) Oppose and halt the Diverse and Well-located Housing reforms and Transport Oriented Development Plans.
b) Re-direct state housing reforms to the building of good quality, sustainable public and social housing across NSW.
c) Maintain local planning and heritage controls and consult with communities and councils about strategies to lift the supply of suitable affordable, sustainable housing.
