Construction starts in Sydney’s South West today on a $500 million development that will deliver 2,400 new homes and employment land to support around 2,500 jobs.
Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, said Gregory Hills, in the Camden district, will be a good example of sustainable residential and employment development.
“Gregory Hills will deliver a mix of housing and employment lands with its own primary school, town centre and extensive parkland as one integrated community,” Ms Keneally said.
“This is exactly what the NSW Government is planning for Sydney’s North West and South West Growth Centres: new housing hand in hand with nearby employment opportunities.
“We want people to live near their workplaces so they can spend less time commuting and more time living their lives with their families.”
Ms Keneally said the Government’s reduced infrastructure contribution rates, introduced last year, lowered developer costs and allowed for vital early infrastructure for the development.
“Infrastructure which forms part of the plan includes construction of five kilometres of Badgally Road from Eagle Vale Drive to Camden Valley Way,” Ms Keneally said.
“This will provide a key link between Camden and Campbelltown, and create direct access to Campbelltown Railway Station. “Under the plan, about 500 metres of Camden Valley Way will also be upgraded to four lanes between Turner Road and Cobbitty Road, with work to start next month.”
Ms Keneally said Gregory Hills shows that the Government’s South West Growth Centre plan is being achieved, with the area rezoned and brought to market in 16 months – a record timeframe.
“The Gregory Hills project is within the Turner Road Precinct, which in total has land capacity for more than 4,000 new home sites and around 5,000 new jobs,” Ms Keneally said.
“It builds on the momentum created by nearby Oran Park Town, which has its own potential for over 7,500 new homes and capacity for around 4,000 jobs.
“In time, the South West Growth Centre is expected to accommodate as many people as the city of Canberra.
“More than 100,000 new homes will be built over the next 30 years, along with new and improved transport, schools, shops, services, parks and other open space.
“To accommodate this growth, I recently released another two precincts in the area – Austral, with potential for 8,000 new dwellings, and Leppington North, with potential for a further 12,000.
“These 20,000 new lots significantly add to Sydney’s land supply and increase housing affordability for families.
“The future Leppington town centre will be planned in conjunction with these two precincts, and supported by the new 11.4 kilometre Glenfield to Leppington rail link which will be built from 2010.”
Ms Keneally praised Camden Council for its strong partnership with the NSW Government and timely assessment of development applications.
“The rezoning of this precinct was achieved in a record timeframe in 2007 due to the cooperative efforts of Camden Council, the developer, landowners and the Department of Planning,” Ms Keneally said. |
