NSW government releases urban renewal plan
Plans for building another 36,000 apartments in the next 20 years near train stations on Sydney's Bankstown rail line were released on Wednesday by the NSW government. The plan is part of NSW Premier Mike Baird government’s intention to develop another inner west corridor.
The developments near 11 stations, including Canterbury, Belmore, Campsie, Bankstown and Marrickville, will coincide with the construction of a metro system, which will be converted from a train line and link to another rail line through the city.
The urban renewal plan not only focuses on building apartments, but also intends to include some road upgrades and build parks and cycling routes, which will bring into being the much anticipated inner west "greenway" from the Cooks River to the southern edge of the city.
"The enhanced public transport network is the catalyst for new growth and development along the corridor," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Planning Minister Rob Stokes as saying.
According to the new plan, “the Sydenham to Bankstown urban renewal corridor strategy,” development of dwellings will take place near Bankstown, Campsie, Canterbury, Punchbowl, and Belmore stations.
The Baird government also intends to build a new metro line by 2017 that would connect Sydenham with Chatswood through the city. It would connect to the current Bankstown line and run trains every 4 minutes. The entire plan was supposed to be implemented by 2014, but the existing lines needed to be closed down for upgrading to enable the single-deck driverless "metro" trains to operate.
Support ofromMarrickville, Canterbury and Bankstown councils are required for the proper implementation of the plan. However, the Marrickville council has not expressed confidence in the plan.
“A lighter touch that allows new forms of dense housing that can work with the established pattern of streets and the grain of the subdivision is essential,” said a spokesperson for Marrickville council.
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