Randwick City Council is calling on the NSW Planning Minister to delay the introduction of a new Medium Density Housing Code which would see about 8,500 blocks of land eligible for subdivision across Randwick City.

The new code was announced by the State Government in early April to provide for the construction and subdivision of dual occupancies, manor houses and terraces under a fast-tracked complying development process from 6 July 2018.

Under the new code, dual occupancies could be permitted to be built and subdivided on lots with a site area as small as 450sqm.

Two council areas (Ryde and Canterbury Bankstown) have successfully had the state-wide code deferred because of concerns about accelerated development and the cumulative impact on residential development.

However, Randwick Council is continuing with a planning proposal it has placed on public exhibition from today (23 May 2018) for 28 days which proposes permitting existing development for dual occupancies and applications approved up until 6 July 2018 to subdivide.

This change is in response to ongoing concerns from owners of company title dual occupancy premises who are under increased financial pressure and uncertainty after banks tightened lending practices on company title.

Randwick Mayor Lindsay Shurey said the deferment of the new code would enable Council more time to consider the impact of increased density as part of a housing strategy developed in consultation with the community.

“The areas where this change will hit the hardest are around Maroubra, Matraville and Chifley in the south of our city. These areas are already poorly serviced by public transport and the roads are busy, schools are filling up and residents have already seen density increases.

“I think it would be prudent to allow Council more time to properly consider the issue until local planning has been undertaken and appropriate strategies such as our Housing Strategy and the K2K Town Centre Strategy are in place to ensure local infrastructure is sufficient to accommodate any increases in population that may result from additional residential development.

“We’re in a good position where we can make changes to our Local Environment Plan to fix up a burning issue for owners of existing company title dual occupancy premises, but allow us more time to properly consider the issue of increasing densities across our suburbs,” Mayor Shurey said.

“I’d like to thank NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts for his support in fast-tracking Gateway approval to enable us to exhibit the proposed changes to our Local Environment Plan. These changes affect existing owners of company title dual occupancy premises and are now on public exhibition for feedback.

“Council looks forward to again working with Minister Roberts on Council’s Housing Strategy.”

Council is contacting the Planning Minister to seek a deferment of the application of the Low Rise Medium Density Housing Code.

The Planning Proposal to amend the minimum subdivision provisions in the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012 for development consent issued prior to 6 July 2018 is now on public exhibition.

View the details and have your say www.yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au/LotSizeReview

Submissions close 5pm, Tuesday 19 June 2018.