State Reforms - Low and Mid-Rise Housing
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) have made changes to encourage more low and mid-rise housing options around 171 transport hubs and town centres.
Stage 2 of the Low and Mid Rise Housing Reforms will commence on 28 February 2025. The changes are complex and will override SSLEP2015 provisions. The legislation is yet to be published, and the implications of the reforms are yet to be fully analysed.
There are some areas that have certain hazards or constraints that the policy does not apply to, including:
- land with a high risk from natural hazards like bushfire and floods
- land located close to dangerous goods pipelines and high aircraft noise
- land that contains a heritage item
In brief, apartment buildings up to six storeys within 400 metres of centres and up to four storeys within 800 metres of centres, will be permitted in the R3 Medium Density Residential zone and the R4 High Density Residential zone. Apartments will also be permitted within 800m of centres, in the R2 Low Density zone, albeit at a much lower density (maximum floor space ratio 0.8:1).
In Sutherland Shire this will affect the following centres:
- Caringbah station and town centre
- Cronulla station and town centre
- Engadine town centre
- Gymea station
- Kirrawee station and town centre
- Menai Marketplace shopping centre
- Miranda station and town centre
- Southgate shopping centre
- Sutherland station and town centre
- Woolooware station
The indicative mapped changes are available on the DPHI's website.
The State reforms will amend dual occupancy provisons in the R2 Low density zone.
The reforms are extensive and aim to take away zoning barriers to development.
More information on the low and mid-rise housing reforms is available at the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure website.
Development in Sutherland Shire
The NSW Government has been encouraging more housing in Sydney to address the housing crisis. The Sutherland Shire, like many parts of Sydney, has recently experienced a construction boom. Increased building in the Sutherland Shire is partly due to favourable economic conditions in the past.
In 2015 - 2020, a rising housing market coupled with considerable development potential created by the making of the Sutherland Shire Local Environmental Plan 2015, created ideal conditions for development and a corresponding increase in dwelling approvals. As the construction process takes years to commence and construct, many dwellings are now currently nearing completion.
More information is available at: Why must Sutherland Shire accommodate more housing?
Strategies
The Local Strategic Planning Statement outlines Council’s long-term planning strategy for Sutherland Shire.
(We are also bound by various state government directions and plans, some of which apply to the items below.)
Housing Strategy sets out how Council intends to meet the housing needs of the community.
Precinct Planning enables communities to shape the future of their local centres.
Plans
Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) specify land zoning and regulate its use and development.
Development Control Plans (DCPs) provide the specific requirements for development.
Specifications offer technical guidance on specific development types and other matters.
Planning Proposals are applications to amend the LEP.
Register of Variations to Development Standards records applications approved under Clause 4.6 of the LEP.
Development Contributions
Development Contribution Plans fund community infrastructure by levying developments.
The Development Contributions Register records the money collected from the above levies.
Planning Agreements specify the community benefits to be provided by developers.
Heritage
Development on Heritage Properties details how the planning system affects heritage-listed items.
Heritage Item and Property Information provides information about heritage-listed items.
Heritage Grants assist with the conservation of heritage buildings or items, as well as original publications documenting the heritage of Sutherland Shire.