Planning Proposal & Gateway Approval
Amendments to Fairfield Local Environmental Plan 2013 are being delivered in stages.
LEP Review - Stage 1 Planning Proposal
Fairfield LEP 2013 - Amendment No. 37
The following changes came into effect on 27 November 2020.
- A new aim for the LEP to acknowledge the role of the Fairfield Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) 2040 in underpinning the provisions of Fairfield LEP 2013.
- New or amended local clauses relating to active street frontages, design excellence, floodplain risk management and hospital helicopter airspace.
- Additional objectives relating to Floor Space Ratio and Height of Buildings clauses to encourage better building design.
- Amendment to Schedule 2 – Exempt Development to include development relating to temporary use of Council owned/managed land, display of goods on Council footpaths, emergency works on Council land.
- Amendment to Schedule 5 – Environmental Heritage, to update descriptions of 14 properties to reflect current property details.
- Amendment to relevant LEP Land Zoning Maps and associated LEP Height of Building, FSR, Lot Size for Dual Occupancy, and Lot Size Map Dual to address current LEP anomalies affecting the properties at 18 Butler Avenue, Bossley Park, 61 Hill St, Cabramatta and 47 Brown Rd, Bonnyrigg.
LEP Review - Stage 2 Planning Proposal
Fairfield LEP 2013 – Amendment No.46
The changes will come into effect once further endorsed and implemented by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment on the NSW Legislation website.
The Planning Proposal aims, in part, to:
Implement urban design studies that recommend a range of land use zoning changes as well as amendments to development standards, including floor space ratio and height of building controls applying to:
- Fairfield City Centre – sites under 2,500m2
- Cabramatta Town Centre
- Canley Vale Local Centre
- Carramar Neighbourhood Centre and surrounding residential precincts.
It is expected that the proposed increase in densities will help revitalise the existing centres, and to deliver additional housing in well-located areas, within the eastern part of the City.
Note: The draft Urban Design Study for Smithfield Town Centre, and for Yennora and Fairfield East, have not been included in the Stage 2 PP because of the investigations for the Western Sydney Freight Line corridor. The Western Sydney Freight Line is a NSW State Government proposed dedicated freight rail line connection between the Western Parkland City and Port Botany. It will provide a freight link from the Stage 1 corridor near the M7 Motorway to the Southern Sydney Freight Line near Leightonfield. The Stage 2 corridor is under investigation and affects land in Smithfield, Fairfield East and Yennora. For more information on the Western Sydney Freight Line corridor, call the NSW State Government on 1800 837 511.
Implement changes to development standards within various precincts zoned R3 Medium Density Residential as follows:
Floor Space Ratio (FSR) for precincts shown as “Area B” on the floor space ratio map:
- FSR currently 0.45:1
- FSR proposed 0.5:1 for sites less than 22 metres wide
- FSR proposed 0.65:1 for sites 22 metres and greater
- FSR proposed 0.15 bonus for provision of basement car parking
Height of Building (HoB) for precincts shown as “Area A” on the height of building map:
- HoB currently 9 metres (2 storeys)
- HoB proposed 10 metres (3 storeys) for corner sites with 22 metre width required on both street frontages as well as the provision of basement car parking.
Note: R3 Medium Density Residential Zone precincts located below the flood planning area (1 in 100 year flood + 500mm freeboard) and within draft urban design study areas (eg Smithfield) have been excluded.
Public Exhibition Period: The planning proposal was exhibited 28 days from Wednesday 2 June to Wednesday 30 June 2021.
Post Exhibition Report to Council: Council's Outcomes Committee at its meeting held on 14 June 2022 resolved to endorse the above changes inclusive of the new land use zonings and associated development standards.
Finalisation:
In March 2022 the NSW Government established a select committee to inquire into and report in response to major flooding across NSW in 2022. The Upper House Committee released its final report in August 2022. The Response to major flooding across New South Wales in 2022 report contains 21 findings and 37 recommendations including those in relation to planning in flood prone areas.
The report states that “land-use controls needed to be looked at to prevent future developments to be built in flood-prone areas and/or to ensure that properties are built with flood risks in mind” (page 118). The report refers to the Georges River catchment and therefore affects areas such as Fairfield, Canley Vale, Carramar and other residential areas in between.
As a result, any area that is flood affected within planning proposals (at any stage of the planning proposal process) is being considered by a panel of flood experts. This review captures mainstream and short duration flash flooding or overland flooding, which is another consideration for areas within Fairfield City.
There are a range of planning proposals in the NSW that are delayed because of this review, including the Fairfield LEP Stage 2 Planning Proposal.It is anticipated that the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and the Flood Review Team will be providing a response to Fairfield City Council in April 2023.
Amendment No.46 will come into effect once further endorsed and implemented by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment on the NSW Legislation website.
LEP Review - Stage 3 Planning Proposal
Later in 2022 planning work will commence on the Stage 3 Planning Proposal, anticipated to be reported to Council during the 2022/2023 Operational Year.