EIS 1790 Widemere Estate: Bora! Resources (NSW) Pty Ltd 's WT PRIMAR NDTR1 fAO66847 L c>C /ccTh Widemere Lstate Amendment to State Environmental Planning Policy No. 59 Boral Resources (NSW) Pty Ltd r -,---,k- - Ofli) I LI!IIIPJIOL LJUI ).))) EU i UaOr Delivering sustainable SOil!tIOfIS iii 0 more corupelilive world 7,w) Boral Resources (NS\N) Pty Ltd December 200 8010584 Approved by: Judy McKittrick - Position: Project Director www.entn.com Signed: Date: (1 21 December 2001 Euviron,nenlal Resources Management Australia Ply Ltd Quality System Jiii.irce.; ipr JRJ H :-.s hi i lrl iJ1s1t1 lii L\vcii }:lIillLllYiLlIL1 lsiieiuenI AusmiiIi '(v lid A( N 00277H 24e (ERNl disH (liCliLl1(. 1 he I eporl rclie up's dule, ILIrvevs, 1r'durdrncnlsu1d rel1s lakeis l or under t he i 'arliculci' tines and coisd i lions specified herein. Any find jigs, ci sitel nsons or reconi n etsdn Lions only apply to the aforenien tinned circn instances nd no rea Icr reliance should he a ssu nd or H saws by I he ClienI. Furthermore, the report l's,ss been prepared solely for use by (he Clien I and 11KM stccepls no 'esponsbililv lorik rweb'r oiler parties. TABLE OF CONTENTS Puge No. 1. INTRODUCTION I 2. SITE AND SURROUNDING AREA 3 2.1 SITE DESCRIPTION 3 2.2 SITE HISTORY 3 2.3 SURROUNDING LAND USES 7 3. PLANNING CONTROLS 9 3.1 INTRODUCTION 9 3.2 STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICIES 9 3.2.1 Central Western Sydney Economic and Employment Area 9 3.2.2 Remediation of Land 10 3.2.3 Integrating Land Use and Transport 11 3.3 REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS 11 3.3.1 Georges River Catchment 11 3.3.2 Extractive Industry 12 3.3.3 Western Sydney Regional Park 13 3.4 LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS 13 3.4.1 Fairfield Local Environmental Plan 1994 13 3.4.2 Hoiroyd Local Environmental Plan 13 3.5 OTHER PLANNING POLICIES 14 3.5.1 Shaping Western Sydney - The Planning Strategy for Western Sydney 14 4. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT 15 4.1 INTRODUCTION 15 4.2 WATER QUALITY AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT 15 4.2.1 Existing Site Drainage 15 4.2.2 Water Quality 16 4.2.3 Implications of Rezoning 16 4.3 SOIL AND GROUNDWATER 16 4.3.1 Existing Conditions 16 4.3.2 Implications of Rezoning 17 4.4 FLOODING 17 4.5 FLORA AND FAUNA 18 4.5.1 Existing Conditions 18 8010584/DECEMBER 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. 4.5.2 Conservation Status 18 4.5.3 Implications of Rezoning 19 4.6 HERITAGE 21 4.6.1 Indigenous Heritage 21 4.6.2 Non-Indigenous Heritage 21 4.6.3 Implications of Rezoning 22 4.7 VISUAL 22 4.7.1 Existing Environment 22 4.7.2 Implications of Rezoning 25 4.8 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT 25 4.8.1 Existing Traffic Conditions 25 4.8.2 Public Transport 25 4.8.3 Implications of Rezoning 26 4.9 SERVICES 26 5. PROPOSED AMENDMENT 27 5.1 RATIONALE AND PROPOSED ZONINGS 27 5.2 PROPOSED AMENDMENT 27 APPENDICES A. EIGHT PART TESTS 8010584/DECMBER 2001 LIST OF FIGURES Page No. 1 REGIONAL LOCATION OF WIDEMERE 3 2 EXISTING SITE AND SURROUNDING USES 4 3 CONCEPT PLAN FOR GREYSTANES ESTATE DEVELOPMENT 6 4 VEGETATION COMMUNITIES 18 5 STRUCTURE PLAN 26 6 SEPP 59 MAP AMENDMENT 28 7 SEPP 59 MAP AMENDMENT 29 LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS Page No. 1 VIEW ACROSS WIDEMERE WEST TOWARDS THE SOUTH-WEST 21 2 VIEW TOWARDS MUNRO ST RESIDENCES FROM WIDEMERE EAST 22 3 VIEW FROM SOUTHERN RESIDENTIAL LANDS LOOKING SOUTH ACROSS WIDEMERE EAST TO WETHERILL PARK 22 8010584/DCEMBER 2001 8010584/DECEMBER 2001 I I INTRODUCTION This report has been prepared to provide background information to enable the Departmentof Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP) to prepare and approve an amendment to State Environmental Planning Policy No. 59 (SEPP 59) - Central Western Sydney Economic and Employment Area. The purpose of the amendment is to zone the land known as Widemere under SEPP 59. SEPP 59 was gazetted in February 1999. The policy applies to a number of landholdingsin Western Sydney including Boral's Greystanes Estate. The SEPP rezoned most of Greystanes Precinct for urban development including employment generating and residential land uses. I Widemere, which is part of the Greystanes Precinct, while included within SEPP 59, was not rezoned. It was not rezoned at the time of the gazettal as a potential property transaction with land owned by Sydney Water Corporation (SWC) was under discussion with the NSW State Government. As this is no longer being I pursued it is appropriate to consider the future zoning of Widemere ("the Site"). This report provides information about the Site, its environmental condition and I preferred future land use. I ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA 8010584/DECEMBER 2001 1 1 SITE AND SURROUNDING AREA 2.1 SITE DESCRIPTION Widemere is located at the southern end of the Boral Greystanes Estate off Widemere Road. It is located in close proximity to the Wetherill Park Industrial Estate, Boral's Prospect Quarry, the former Sydney Water Canal and Prospect Reservoir. Figure 1 shows the site location. The Site is described as Lot 3 DP 218194, Lot 1 DP 519182, Lot 2 DP 570973 and Lot 2 DP 222382 and is owned by Boral Resources (NSW) Pty Ltd. Widemere has a site area of approximately 25 hectares and is located within the Fairfield and Hoiroyd City Council areas. Figure 2 shows the land. The site is currently used for stockpiling materials associated with quarrying activities, the southern access to the quarry and a horse paddock. The land rises some 20 metres from the lowest point in the south to the highest point I to the north of the site. An artificial mound bounds the site to the south, which is approximately 8 to 10 metres high. The site is essentially cleared of all vegetation, except for some casuarina trees on the northern edge of the site and along Prospect I Creek to the south. 2.2 SITE HISTORY The site has been used for quarrying and associated activities since 1924. A screening plant was constructed in the late 1950s at the northern end of the site, immediately south of the former water supply canal. This plant was used in I association with the quarrying of blue metal and was removed in 1995. A portable asphalt plant and stockpiles were approved and operated on the site from 1975. Continuous operations of the asphalt plant ceased in 1997. Since that time a I portable plant has spent periods of time off the site, operating in other locations. I I ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA 8010584/DECEMBER 2001 3 1 : euI:gn nnth Glerthroo •• Wi eme I / orde IV P00 - carne en wiiaWa r.1iigI;1.1;4'I.JI:1 • - in inn r - CRtYSTANtS 'n - •--••--L_ • •-•. YEN / . 13 I RN Io got / i-_• ni •I r1 j I 91 jis Regional Location of Wid:mere ERM Amendment to SEPP 59 opt IVY 4 I Jr ( Ie1; ' • ________ ---k 0 / p 4 / y AiII]1iI1:U : Pl I - - VYI - UWIII'7IJlI -* 1I ww : - . -. •- - : : ART Aw Vk : Figure 2 Existing Site and Surrounding ices 1Opl Amendment to SE'P 59 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA 8010584/DECEMBER 2001 6 In addition to the asphalt operations, Fairfield Council granted consent in 1996 for stockpiling of soil, which was accordingly stockpiled in the northern part of the site. The site is currently used for stockpiling materials associated with quarrying activities. There is also a small security guard office with a gate for the southern access/ exits point to Prospect Quarry and a roadway that is used by quarry traffic to enter and exit the Estate. 2.3 SURROUNDING LAND USES Adjoining the site to the north is the former Sydney Water Supply Canal which is to be developed as a pedestrian and cycleway. To the north of the Canal lies Boral's Greystanes Estate, which has been the location for several Boral businesses, including the Prospect Quarry, a recycling plant, and an asphalt plant. Boral is developing this land for employment and residential purposes as allowed for by SEPP 59. A copy of the concept plan showing the future land use layout of the Estate is provided in Figure 3. This shows that the employment and residential lands are some 150 metres to the north of the site. Prospect Creek follows the southern boundary of the site. The Sydney Water Supply pipeline lies approximately 50 metres from the site and the Wethenill Park industrial estate is located south of the creek. To the west and uphill from the site is Prospect Reservoir and its surrounding buffer areas. To the east is Hyland Park and residences on Munro Street. Adjoining land uses are shown in Figure 2. ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA 8010584/DECEMBER 2001 7 Amendment to SEPP 59 3 PLANNING CONTROLS 3.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter outlines the relevant planning controls that apply and need to be considered in determining the future appropriate land uses for Widemere and, therefore, its zoning. 3.2 STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICIES 3.2.1 Central Western Sydney Economic and Employment Area State Environmental Planning Policy No. 59 - Central Western Sydney Economic and Employment Area (SEPP 59) was gazetted in February 1999 and applies to the site. Widemere was included as part of the Greystanes Precinct but was not zoned under the SEPP. The effect of this is that the aims and objectives and guiding principles of the SEPP apply to development of Widemere.