Fairfield Local Environmental Plan Review

Local Environmental Plan Review Health Check

A Local Environmental Plan (LEP) guides land use and development by zoning land, identifying what land uses are allowed in each zone, and specifying development standards such as maximum height and minimum lot sizes. As such, the Fairfield Local Environmental Plan 2013 is the main planning tool to shape the future of development in Fairfield City.

Further information on the Fairfield LEP 2013 can be viewed on Council’s website at: Local Environmental Plans and Maps | Fairfield City Council (nsw.gov.au)

A review of Fairfield LEP 2013, relevant local plans and strategies was undertaken to assess their alignment with the Western City District Plan. 

Council's Local Environmental Plan Review Health Check was considered by Council on 25 September 2018 and subsequently approved by the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC).

Draft Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS)

The draft Fairfield Local Strategic Planning Statement was placed on public exhibition from 26 June 2019 to 23 August 2019.

Council undertook comprehensive community engagement to inform the development of the statement. This included notices on Council’s website, newsletter and newspaper advertisements, flyers for ratepayers, social media posts, and advisory group meetings. 

The exhibited draft Local Strategic Planning Statement can be viewed at: 2019_local_strategic_planning_statment.pdf (nsw.gov.au)

Council received over 70 written submissions that raised various key topics, such as housing affordability, employment opportunities and open space. 

A number of changes to the LSPS were made to reflect the comments raised in submissions and comments made by the former Greater Sydney Commission. These post-exhibition changes were reported to Council and included in the revised draft LSPS being forwarded to the GSC for assurance in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

The endorsed version of the Fairfield LSPS can be viewed at: Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) | Fairfield City Council (nsw.gov.au). 

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

Fairfield Local Environmental Plan 2013 Amendment No. 37 (LEP Review – Stage 1) was publicly exhibited 8 May 2020 to 8 June 2020.

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.

LEP Review - Stage 2 Planning Proposal

Fairfield LEP 2013 - Amendment No. 45

The planning proposal was publicly exhibited 2 June 2021 to 30 June 2021 and endorsed by Council’s Outcomes Committee at its meeting held on 14 June 2022.

The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) implemented the Stage 2 Planning Proposal, but only for areas that are not affected by potential flooding (from creeks or overland flooding). This was a direct response to findings and recommendations from a NSW Government enquiry on planning in flood prone areas following severe flooding across the state in 2022. 

The following changes came into effect on 24 May 2024:

• Additional objectives relating to Floor Space Ratio and Height of Buildings clauses to encourage better building design within the Cabramatta Town Centre
• Amended clauses relating to Height of Buildings and Floor Space Ratio for certain land in zone R3 to encourage more consistent building outcomes
• Amended objectives for Town Centres to include the parts of Carramar Precinct not flood affected and provide additional standards for Height of Buildings
• Amendment to Schedule 5 – Environmental Heritage, to include 2 local heritage items and update description of 2 items to reflect item details.

DPHI has advised Council it can only reconsider the areas removed from the Stage 2 Planning Proposal should additional flood evacuation modelling be undertaken. This includes areas within the Georges River catchment, affecting areas such as Fairfield, Canley Vale, Carramar and other residential areas in between. At this stage, Council is unclear of when this process can commence. It could be a number of years before a new planning proposal could be considered by Council given the need to obtain funding, engage consultants and meet with state government agencies.

Landowners with land that was excluded from the finalisation of the Planning Proposal by DPHI were advised in writing in July 2024. A copy of the Frequently Asked Questions sheet was attached to the letter and can be viewed at: PP - Letter FAQ - Fairfield Stage 2 Planning Proposal - July 2024(PDF, 244KB)