Lift off for Western Sydney’s Aerotropolis Plan

A range of new, bespoke zones have been established for the Aerotropolis. This sets up a very flexible framework within which development can occur over the next twenty years. A SEPP discussion paper outlines the approach. 

The new Aerotropolis zones are as follows:

• Enterprise zone: (Northern Gateway, Badgerys Creek, Aerotropolis Core) Uses which complement airport operations, which do not include residential uses.
• Mixed use zone: Land not affected by the 20 ANEC / ANEF and above in high amenity areas.  Commercial and residential uses are permitted.
• Environment and Recreation zone: Primarily the Wianamatta-South Creek Precinct and other areas identified for conservation and biodiversity.
• SP1 Special Activities zone: designed for the airport (Commonwealth Land).
• SP2 Infrastructure zone: for road and rail corridors: This zone will need to be modified as corridors (particularly rail) become known.
• Agribusiness Zone: to support high tech agribusiness, including freight logistics and horticulture.

There will be an updated Ministerial Direction which will require all Planning Proposals seeking to amend land zoned under the Aerotropolis SEPP or the respective council LEP to be consistent with the Aerotropolis plan.

The key Structure Plan diagram and related zones is shown below. 

The Aerotropolis will be framed around a landscape-led approach, with an expansive network of green and blue corridors, while contributing to greater productivity and a significant increase in jobs for Western Sydney.

The Phase 1 Development Control Plan will promote exemplary design on land covered by the SEPP and WSAP. It will include the planning principles and objectives to achieve the vision for the Aerotropolis as well as some performance outcomes for development.

The Phase 2 Development Control Plan, proposed for mid-2020, will identify additional performance outcomes and specific development controls. There will be opportunity for proponents to prepare site specific DCP provisions where they wish to advance planning ahead of the NSW Government’s program. 

There will also be a referral mechanism to the Commonwealth to safeguard airport operations in relation to noise and the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces. This includes the use of certain cranes, development which creates windshear or development which attracts wildlife.

The draft Planning Package has resulted in the release of three additional Precincts. This partly reflects the combined ability to focus services in the area, but also the private land acquisition process which has meant that almost all the large, unfragmented land holdings are now owned by institutional investors.

There have been many representations to Government by the major landowners with a clear message that they are ready to go now. This is a big contrast to the North West and South West Growth Areas which have usually only had three active Precincts at a time. The draft Planning Package also outlines a clear process for landowners to follow should they wish to move ahead of the precinct planning process.

The next two months of community consultation, up until 28th February 2020, will be critical for the Precinct Planning phase of the Aerotropolis.

Perhaps less controversial than the Stage 1 LUIIP, the identification of a larger number of early release precincts and the clearer hierarchy of the green grids and road patterns means there is a greater opportunity for the Planning Partnership to drill down to the next level of detail in mid-2020. By that stage, the Western Sydney Airport Corporation will be well advanced in the Terminal design process, the M12 will be post exhibition and very controversial elements, such as the location of the Intermodal Terminal in Mamre Road Precinct, may be resolved.

The Plan states that by mid-2020, the following documents will be finalised:

• Western Sydney Aerotropolis Plan
• Aerotropolis SEPP
• Aerotropolis Development Control Plan – Phase 1

Significantly, the Plan also states that by mid-2020, the important missing links will be exhibited, leading to finalisation by late 2020:

• State & local infrastructure contributions plans
• Individual Precinct Plans (including Indicative Layout Plans)
• Aerotropolis Development Control Plan – Phase 2

^{Header image by Ross Parmly on Unsplash.}