OUR GREATER SYDNEY 2056 Western City District Plan – connecting communities March 2018 2 Acknowledgement of Country Western City District The Greater Sydney Commission Blue Mountains acknowledges the traditional owners Camden Campbelltown of the lands that include Western City Fairfield District and the living culture of the Hawkesbury Liverpool traditional custodians of these lands. Penrith The Commission recognises that the Wollondilly traditional owners have occupied and cared for this Country over countless generations, and celebrates their continuing contribution to the life of Greater Sydney. Greater Sydney Commission | Draft Western City District Plan 3 Foreward Chief Commissioner I am delighted to present the Western Collaboration is the key to transparent Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO City District Plan, which sets out planning and informed decision-making on our priorities and actions for improving the city’s future growth. The Greater Sydney quality of life for residents as the district Commission will continue to bring grows and changes. together all parties with an interest in the The Plan recognises what the Greater District’s future and channel the collective Sydney Commission has heard – energy into improved planning outcomes. particularly that the District’s natural By taking a leadership role, we are bringing landscape is a great asset and attractor, together public resources and expertise sustaining and supporting a unique, to create a more liveable, productive and parkland city. sustainable city. This Plan complements those natural Finally, on behalf of the Greater Sydney assets, and it puts people first. It Commission, I acknowledge the important leverages the transformative, economic work of councils whose submissions improvements from the Western Sydney and feedback on the needs of their Airport and considers the transport, neighbourhoods and centres have been infrastructure, services, affordable invaluable. Together with the community housing and open spaces that will be and other stakeholders, your expertise required as the population grows and the and interest have helped to produce an demographics change. Also, it considers inspiring and practical plan. community and cultural life and the environmental sustainability of the landscape. Interim Western City The Western City District is Greater Sydney’s economy. The Western Sydney City District Commissioner parkland city, a place surrounded by World Deal between the Australian, the NSW Geoff Roberts Heritage Listed landscapes, with a sprinkling Governments and local governments will of towns and centres that combine village drive this growth. charm and heritage character. With such change, the Western City District This iconic landscape is more than a Plan works to protect and enhance the backdrop – it is the District’s underlying character of our places and make it easier asset. People travel from around the world for residents to access services and facilities. to experience the mountains, escarpments, With more jobs, more residents will be rural hinterland and rivers. The landscape working locally and experiencing shorter is the foundation for how we plan for the commutes. To support this, we will work District – it resonates in our places and towards a greater diversity of homes so that informs the District’s design and structure. people can afford to live here and can choose The development of Australia’s first 21st a home that better suits their lifestyle. century international airport will drive This Plan is part of a continuing population growth, improve transport conversation about how we can come links and create new jobs and economic together to create the District we aspire to. opportunities. This is a unique chance to I’m eager for as many people as possible to grow new markets in international and get involved as we implement the Plan. It’s domestic tourism, advanced logistics, an important step in helping to shape the aerospace industries freight, transport, decisions that will drive the District’s future. health, education and the knowledge Greater Sydney Commission | Draft Western City District Plan 4 Contents Future of the Western City District 6 3 Liveability 26 Metropolitan context of the Western City District 8 Planning Priority W3. Providing services and social Structure Plan for the Western City District 10 infrastructure to meet people’s changing needs 28 Ten Directions for a metropolis of the three cities and the Western City District 14 Planning Priority W4. Fostering healthy, creative, culturally rich and socially connected communities 33 Planning Priority W5. Providing housing supply, choice 1 About the Plan 16 and affordability, with access to jobs, services and public transport 39 Planning Priority W6. Creating and renewing great places and local centres, and respecting the District’s heritage 48 2 Infrastructure and collaboration 18 4 Productivity 56 Planning Priority W1. Planning for a city supported by Planning Priority W7. Establishing the land use and infrastructure 20 transport structure to deliver Planning Priority W2. Working through collaboration 22 a liveable, productive and sustainable Western Parkland City 60 Planning Priority W8. Leveraging industry opportunities from the Western Sydney Airport and Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis 71 Planning Priority W9. Growing and strengthening the metropolitan cluster 78 Planning Priority W10. Maximising freight and logistics opportunities and planning and managing industrial and urban services land 87 Planning Priority W11. Growing investment, business opportunities and jobs in strategic centres 94 Greater Sydney Commission | Draft Western City District Plan 5 5 Sustainability 104 Planning Priority W12. Protecting and improving the health and enjoyment of the District’s waterways 108 Planning Priority W13. Creating a Parkland City urban structure and identity, with South Creek as a defining spatial element 113 Planning Priority W14. Protecting and enhancing bushland and biodiversity 116 Planning Priority W15. Increasing urban tree canopy cover and delivering Green Grid connections 119 Planning Priority W16. Protecting and enhancing scenic and cultural landscapes 124 Planning Priority W17. Better managing rural areas 125 Planning Priority W18. Delivering high quality open space 1 28 Planning Priority W19. Reducing carbon emissions and managing energy, water and waste efficiently 132 Planning Priority W20. Adapting to the impacts of urban and natural hazards and climate change 135 6 Implementation 140 Planning Priority W21. Preparing local strategic planning statements informed by local strategic planning 143 Planning Priority W22. Monitoring and reporting on the delivery of the plan 145 7 Endnotes 148 Greater Sydney Commission | Draft Western City District Plan 6 Future of the Western City District The vision for Greater Sydney as a metropolis of three cities – the Western Parkland City, the Central River City and the Eastern Harbour City and a 30-minute city – means residents in the Western City District will have quicker and easier access to a wider range of jobs, housing types and activities. This vision will improve the District’s lifestyle and environmental assets. This will be achieved by: • Creating a once-in-a-generation economic boom with the Western Sydney Airport and Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis bringing together infrastructure, businesses and knowledge-intensive jobs • Building on the Western Sydney City Deal to transform the Western City District over the next 20 to 40 years by building on natural and community assets and developing a more contained Western City District with a greater choice of jobs, transport and services aligned with growth • Delivering the first stage of the North South Rail Link • Collaborating and building strong relationships between Liverpool, Greater Penrith and Campbelltown-Macarthur reinforced by the emerging Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis forming a unique metropolitan cluster • Providing major transport links for people and freight by unprecedented transport investments • Developing a range of housing, providing access to public transport and infrastructure including schools, hospitals and community facilities • Linking walking and cycling paths, bushland and a green urban landscape framed by the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the Scenic Hills and Western Sydney Parklands • Enhancing and protecting South Creek, Georges River and Hawkesbury- Nepean river systems • Mitigating the heat island effect and providing cooler places by extending urban tree canopy and retaining water in the landscape • Protecting the District’s natural landscapes, heritage and tourism assets, unique rural areas and villages • Protecting the environmental, social and economic values of the Metropolitan Rural Area. Greater Sydney Commission | Western City District Plan Connecting 7 Communities Protected Natural Area • Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area • State Conservation areas: Burragorang, Yerranderie and Nattai • Drinking water catchments Metropolitan Rural Area • Includes primary production and resource extraction, tourism and recreation assets, towns and villages • Strategic Centres at Richmond– Windsor and Katoomba Western Economic Corridor Jobs growth leveraging the investment in infrastructure and new communities Greater Penrith to Eastern Creek Growth Area Integrated land use and transport planning to optimise north-south links South Creek Project Creating a green corridor spine for the Western Parkland City Committed transport The Western