Motion to Master Plan Lewisham precinct – Marrickville Council
This motion seeks to have Council commission a Master Plan for the entire precinct between Old Canterbury Road and the Good Line. A master plan will provide an alternative vision for the urban renewal of the area, with appropriate height and density limits to complement the surrounding community, as well as provision for open space and traffic management.
The public is welcome to attend meetings – 6.30pm, Tuesday 16 June at Marrickville Council Chambers, 2 Fisher Street Petersham. See Map.
Notice of Motion
Master plan and zoning for the McGill Street Precinct
Councillor Phillips
Motion:
That Council commission a master plan for the McGill Street, Lewisham precinct.
That appropriate zoning, height limits, floor space ratio, and other development controls be placed on the McGill Street precinct to ensure urban renewal of the area that is complementary to the surrounding community and in accordance with the Marrickville Urban Strategy.
That this planning be conducted as a matter of urgency to ensure Marrickville Council’s vision for the McGill Street precinct is comprehensive and clear, and that any changes can be implemented during the current review of the Marrickville Local Environment Plan.
Background:
The McGill Street precinct was set to be master planned in conjunction with the St Peters Triangle as part of the current review of the Marrickville Local Environment Plan. The McGill Street precinct master plan was suspended when a Part 3A application was submitted by a developer for a massive development at the northern end of the precinct.
In Council’s February submission to the Department of Planning, it notified that it was suspending its master planning of the precinct due to the Part 3A application. This submission attached Council’s project brief and suggested: “this work should be carried out by the proponent as part of any consideration of the subject proposal as a Part 3A Major Project.”
The Greens consider that any master plan commissioned by a developer, with plans for a massive overdevelopment of part of the precinct, presents an inherent conflict of interest and will not result in the best outcome for the rest of the precinct, nor the surrounding community.
We believe that a master plan commissioned by Marrickville Council, rather than a private developer, will result in the best master plan for the area.
A master plan should be prepared as a matter of urgency so that a vision for the urban renewal of this precinct that complements the existing community, is clear and comprehensive to the public, the Department of Planning, the Minister for Planning, and potential developers.
The McGill Street precinct is recognised as an area of the Marrickville Local Government Area in need of a review of its zoning and development controls. In their submission to the Marrickville Urban Strategy, residents of the precinct state:
“The Lewisham site presents an on-going and unmanageable conflict of land usage. The current zoning has been a constant challenge for all stakeholders; industry, residents and Marrickville Council.
Over the past decade, and particularly in the last five years, the conflicting land use in the site and particularly McGill St (the most active front-line interface between residents and industry) has caused considerable problems for residents and businesses alike.
Residents have lodged numerous complaints to Council regarding the detrimental impacts of the light industrial businesses with regards to noise, traffic, rubbish and the constant breaching of conditions of consent imposed on the various businesses. To date those complaints would number in the hundreds.”
The consideration of zoning for the McGill Street precinct and its potential for renewal should not be scuttled by the plans a greedy developer. Appropriate zoning, height limits and floor space ratios should be applied to the McGill Street precinct in the current review of the Marrickville Local Environment Plan.