2006–31 SYDNEY– CANBERRA CORRIDOR REGIONAL STRATEGY SydCanb_Cover_Final.indd 2 14/07/2008 09:29:26 The Sydney–Canberra Corridor Regional Strategy applies to the local government areas of Wingecarribee, Goulburn Mulwaree, Upper Lachlan, Yass Valley, Palerang and Queanbeyan, and is one of a number of regional strategies prepared by the Department of Planning. The Sydney–Canberra Corridor Regional Strategy builds on previous planning work, including the 1995 Sydney–Canberra Corridor Strategy as well as the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Subregion Planning Strategy. The Regional Strategy represents an agreed NSW Government position on the future of the Sydney–Canberra Corridor. It is the pre-eminent planning document for the Sydney–Canberra Corridor Region and has been prepared to complement other relevant State and local strategies and planning instruments. Many parts of the Sydney–Canberra Corridor Region continue to experience signifi cant growth given the strategic location of the Region between two capital cities, although in other parts of the Region there is less immediate demand for growth. The primary purpose of the Regional Strategy is to accommodate and manage growth while ensuring that the rural landscapes and environmental settings that defi ne the Region’s character are not compromised. CONTENTS It will do this by ensuring that land is available and appropriately INTRODUCTION .................INSIDE COVER located to sustainably accommodate the projected population growth and associated housing, employment and environmental FOREWORD .............................................1 needs over the period until 2031. The Strategy acknowledges THE SYDNEY–CANBERRA the importance of a coordinated approach to settlement, whilst CORRIDOR REGION ................................3 taking into account demand for different types of housing and the adequacy of supply. The broad elements of the Strategy are REGIONAL CHALLENGES .......................5 represented on the Regional Strategy Map, which identifi es the A VISION FOR THE FUTURE ..................12 overall structure of the Region. RURAL LANDS AND PRIMARY In accordance with the memorandum of understanding between INDUSTRY .............................................17 the NSW and ACT governments on settlement, the Strategy ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND recognises the importance of working cooperatively with the ACT EMPLOYMENT GROWTH ......................22 and represents the NSW Government’s position on settlement within the Cross-Border Region. REGIONAL TRANSPORT .......................29 The Regional Strategy incorporates the specifi c regional HOUSING AND SETTLEMENT ...............32 infrastructure requirements identifi ed in the State infrastructure NATURAL ENVIRONMENT .....................41 strategy 2008–09 to 2017–18 New South Wales (NSW Treasury 2008). The Regional Strategy will continue to inform future WATER AND ENERGY RESOURCES .....46 infrastructure priorities for the Sydney–Canberra Corridor. CULTURAL HERITAGE ...........................49 Infrastructure planning will take into account the broad planning framework identifi ed in the Regional Strategy, to ensure that future IMPLEMENTATION .................................51 population growth is supported by required services and associated MONITORING AND REVIEW ..................52 infrastructure. APPENDICES The Sydney–Canberra Regional Strategy applies to the period 1. Sustainability criteria ...........................53 2006–2031 and will be reviewed every fi ve years. 2. Infrastructure projects .........................55 3. Settlement principles for the Sydney–Canberra Corridor Regional Strategy southern subregion .............................55 © State of New South Wales through the Department of Planning 2008 4. Drinking Water Catchments www.planning.nsw.gov.au Regional Environmental ISBN 978-0-7347-5903-0 Plan No. 1 ..........................................56 DoP 2008_026 Photographs on p. 2 (bottom row, images 1 and 4 from left), p. 7, p. 10, p. 11, p. 17 and MAPS p. 19 (top right) © State of New South Wales through the Sydney Catchment Authority. Photography by TVU Pty Ltd 1. Sydney–Canberra Corridor Regional Strategy ............................. 14–15 Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that this document is correct at the time of printing, the State of New South Wales, its agents and employees, 2. Natural resources ...............................16 disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of anything or the consequences of 3. Drinking water sub-catchments ..........45 anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this document. SydCanb_Cover_Final.indd 3 14/07/2008 09:29:37 F Foreword With its classic rural landscapes, Importantly, the Strategy for This Strategy will set an important historic towns and location the Sydney–Canberra Corridor framework for the Region’s long- between two major Australian will also protect unique regional term growth and environmental cities, the Sydney–Canberra assets such as the $200 million diversity. Corridor is not only an attractive agricultural industry and scenic place to live, but a crucial part countryside. As with the other regional strategies, of the State’s economy and the community, local council and environment. As the Region supports its own key stakeholders – and, in this water supply and includes Sydney’s case, the ACT Government – will The Region is already experiencing drinking water catchment, it is be involved in the process and steady growth, with around 2000 important that the long-term have an important role to play. new residents each year and a strategy identifi es water resources healthy tourism industry. and key areas supporting The Strategy will be continually biodiversity and water quality. monitored and reviewed every fi ve This is the sixth regional years. I commend it to you. strategy to be fi nalised by the The Sydney–Canberra Corridor NSW Government, to manage also includes signifi cant transport sustainable housing and jobs infrastructure, with the Hume growth and protect the local and Federal highways, and environment. Completed after a major Sydney to Melbourne road period of public exhibition, the and rail routes. These transport The Hon. Frank Sartor MP Strategy identifi es the need for backbones offer considerable Minister for Planning 25 200 additional dwellings and strategic economic development Minister for Redfern Waterloo 27 800 new jobs to 2031. This is opportunities. The ongoing fl ow Minister for the Arts in line with the State Plan aims of of trade and tourism along these ‘jobs closer to home’ and ‘housing transport corridors will also support affordability’. jobs growth in existing areas and attract fresh business investment. The Strategy supports most of the region’s new housing growth Specifi c future infrastructure occurring in and around existing requirements for the Region, major regional centres. This will identifi ed in the State Infrastructure assist new housing being serviced Strategy 2008–09 to 2017–18, by transport and other services have been incorporated in the and infrastructure. Regional Strategy. SydCanb_RegStrategy_Final.indd 1 14/07/2008 10:27:42 SydCanb_RegStrategy_Final.indd 2 14/07/2008 10:27:44 1 The Sydney–Canberra Corridor region The Sydney–Canberra The Sydney–Canberra Corridor distance of Sydney and Canberra is a region of signifi cant potential. that are also experiencing Corridor extends from Linking Sydney and Canberra, the signifi cant pressure for growth. the Southern Highlands Region is a key State and national corridor for transport, The Region’s population is of NSW in the north, to communication fl ows, goods projected to be 183 350 by the NSW/ACT border in and services. The volume and 2031, a growth of 46 350 people, fl ow of goods, people and ideas requiring an additional 25 200 the south and includes represents a signifi cant economic dwellings and 27 800 jobs. parts of the Southern advantage for the Region. As The Region sits between Australia’s well as its links to Sydney and Tablelands – an area of largest city, Sydney and the Canberra, the Region enjoys national capital, Canberra. As both approximately 25 000 ready access to Wollongong, the cities increase in size so does Illawarra and South Coast, and square kilometres. their infl uence on the Region. This the south western slopes of NSW. is most evident in terms of the The Region is the Together with a highly valued rural extent of commuting and where setting and proximity to other cities traditional home of development is mainly occurring, and regions, the Sydney–Canberra being generally at the northern and the Gundungurra, Corridor provides signifi cant choice southern ends of the corridor. in terms of lifestyle, employment Ngunawal, Yuin group and development opportunities. Historically, the Region was of nations, Wiradjuri The current population is serviced by a highway of a much approximately 137 000, with both lesser standard. As a result, and Tharawal people, the northern and southern ends centres in the Region and their whose cultural and of the Region experiencing high communities were a lot more growth, refl ecting their proximity to self-contained. Large pastoral traditional association Sydney and Canberra. There are farm holdings were more prevalent with the land extend a number of smaller towns in the with the character of places more Region that are within commuting strongly linked to agriculture. over many generations. SYDNEY–CANBERRA CORRIDOR REGIONAL