New heritage items, housing growth areas and later trading hours for low impact businesses are proposed as part of a Comprehensive Planning Proposal to amend Randwick Council’s Local Environmental Plan now on public exhibition for public comment from 31 May to 12 July 2022.

The proposed changes seek to update Council’s LEP to strategically align with state plans and Council’s planning framework while meeting State Government imposed housing targets.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said Council has been vocal in objecting to the targets.

“Council shares the concerns of many community members about over population and increasing densities without the appropriate infrastructure.

“We have been vocal in objecting to NSW State Government housing targets, but the reality is we don’t have a choice. We are under direction from the NSW State Government to meet housing targets of 4,464 new dwellings in the next 6-10 years.

“To limit the impact of these housing targets, our draft LEP proposes the additional housing in areas well located to public transport, jobs and shops,” Mayor Parker said.

Randwick Council is meeting these imposed targets with 3,416 new dwellings already forecast through existing planning controls, major renewal sites and along the K2K corridor. The LEP  currently on exhibition provides capacity for another 474 new dwellings through changes to dual occupancy controls and 574 new homes in identified housing investigation areas.

Randwick Council has written to all property owners in Randwick City about the changes and is also conducting onsite drop-in sessions for residents wishing to find out more.

Randwick City residents and property owners are encouraged to use the Property Checker map tool to find out if they’re affected by any changes.

Key changes proposed in the LEP include:

• Housing Investigation Areas: Five new housing precincts are proposed in North Kensington, Randwick and Kingsford South introducing new planning controls, including changes to zoning, height and density resulting in 574 new homes to help meet housing targets.

• Dual Occupancy in R2 low density residential zones: Minimum lot sizes to subdivide a dual occupancy will reduce from 400m2 to 275m2. The change is designed to support this housing type which is popular with families and to permit either strata or Torrens titling of lots.

• Heritage: More than 50 new heritage items are proposed and a new heritage conservation area to protect the unique identity of parts of Randwick City.

• Economic development: Low impact businesses such as shops will be able to operate from 7am to 11pm and provide small scale cultural activities such as acoustic music and performances without requiring development consent. The changes are designed to support local businesses and create vibrant and lively town centres.

• Open Space and Recreation: Changes to strengthen and protect open space, parks and playgrounds, and create new open space zones.

• Environmental Resilience: New controls to encourage sustainable and resilient development by requiring higher standards for new development.

• Employment Land Zones Reform: New employment zones to replace existing B1 Neighbourhood Centre, B2 Local Centre and IN1 Light Industrial zones to align with State government reforms.

You can speak directly with Council staff about the proposed changes at one of the following drop-in sessions:

• Royal Randwick Shopping Centre
  Thursday 16 June, Friday 17 June, Saturday 18 June
  11am – 2pm each day

• Pacific Square Shopping Centre, Maroubra
  Tuesday 21 June, Wednesday 22 June, Thursday 23 June
  11am – 2pm each day

• Kensington Park Community Centre
  Thursday 23 June 2.30 – 4.30pm
  Saturday 9 July 1 – 3pm

Hard copies (physical documents) of the Comprehensive Planning Proposal are on display at the following sites:

HOW TO HAVE YOUR SAY

• Comments can be made online via our website www.yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au/LEP2022

• Via email to council@randwick.nsw.gov.au

• by post to the General Manager, Randwick City Council, 30 Frances Street, Randwick NSW 2031. Comments should be clearly headed ‘Randwick City Comprehensive Planning Proposal’.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment is the plan-making authority for the finalisation of this Planning Proposal.

Submissions on the draft LEP close at 5pm on Tuesday 12 July 2022.

If you would like to speak with a planning officer about the LEP changes, call our dedicated enquiry line on 9093 6995.