The NSW Government is hitting the accelerator on progress with their Transport Oriented Development (TOD) programs.
If you’re not in the ‘know’ about the TODs, supposedly, the government estimates that 170,000 more well-located, well-designed, and well-built homes will be delivered throughout the Sydney, Illawarra, Hunter, and Central Coast.
In December last year, the government announced the Transport Oriented Development State Environmental Planning Policy (TOD SEPP), which identified 31 stations across 13 local government areas around which new housing will be located within 400m.
In recent months, local community groups and councils have continued to voice up and dig heels of their own firmly in their community’s land. None more so than individuals near affected train stations in Ku-ring-gai, joining these residents is the always vocal and seemingly forever-on-the-scene Ku-ring-gai Council, which has become one of the leading advocating councils against the TODs.
The council made an effort to swat away any housing developments near the stations of Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, and Roseville. However, these efforts almost turned the heat up in the Ku-ring-gai area itself.
The NSW government has now had to set a blanket deadline for stations in Ku-ring-gai, a deadline for TOD sites finalisation of April 2024. While some other stations are given until July, October, and December, some even until 2025, Ku-ring-gai see themselves as one of the first groups the NSW government wants to have finalised.
Interestingly, a source has informed the Post that the Ku-ring-gai council was actually offered a chance to provide an alternate planning solution. However, ended up never submitting anything to the department.
In fact, Ku-ring-gai was the only council that didn’t work with the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure.
This could have been foreshadowed by the everyday Aussie when Ku-ring-gai Mayor Sam Ngai went on 2GB in early February to explain council efforts to pass a motion to explore all other alternate development options; however, while on air, failed to provide host Chris O’Keefe with any legitimate options when he had the chance to express these ‘alternative’ options.
It’s clear that the TODs unsettle people, and it’s also apparent that the city needs more houses. What is for sure is that nothing will get done if local councils continue saying no and avoiding collaboration with the government entirely.
Premier of NSW Chris Minns reaffirmed the decision to implement the TODS,
“The NSW Government is absolutely committed to confronting the housing crisis head-on. For too long, housing has been put in the too-hard basket.
“If we don’t build more houses, young people will up and leave because they can’t afford a home in NSW. And if we lose our young people, we lose our future.
Minister for Planning and Public Space Paul Scully also commented, congratulating 12 of 13 councils for taking the initiative.
“I applaud the councils that have worked collaboratively with my department, which has resulted in a TOD policy tailored to each location and community.
“I encourage others to sit down and help us address the housing crisis by working together to find well-located housing across the State for young people, essential workers, and families who desperately need to access the housing market.
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