Planning proposal: Waterloo estate (south)

The NSW Land and Housing Corporation submitted a planning proposal request to change the planning controls that apply to the southern portion of the Waterloo estate (Waterloo south).

Waterloo south includes land bounded by Cope, Raglan, George, Wellington, Gibson, Kellick, Pitt and McEvoy streets. It has an approximate site area of 12.32 hectares (approximately 65% of the total estate).

The NSW Land and Housing Corporation has indicated further requests will follow for other parts of the Waterloo estate.

The planning proposal request is to facilitate the redevelopment and renewal of the site into an integrated mixed-tenure community, replacing and providing social, affordable and private market housing.

The request is to amend the Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 to increase building heights and density to allow for around 3,000 dwellings. It includes space for businesses, shops and community facilities, along with a large new park and other public spaces.

The proposed mix of housing in Waterloo south is 30% social housing and 70% private housing including affordable housing. This reflects the NSW Government’s communities plus program.

The City of Sydney will lead community consultation for the NSW Land and Housing Corporation’s planning proposal. The community consultation will be guided by our community engagement strategy, community participation plan and community engagement principles.

The key objectives of the community consultation will include:

• ensuring the community is aware of the planning proposal for the Waterloo estate, including changes since the preferred masterplan was released in 2019
• helping community members to understand the planning proposal and the planning process, by providing clear information and access to City of Sydney staff members to answer questions
• providing a range of options for community members to provide their feedback during the public consultation period, including online and face to face and in community languages
• ensuring all community consultation is well-documented, with all feedback presented clearly for consideration of Council and the Central Sydney Planning Committee and made available to the public.

We will also publicise the community consultation through local newspapers and publications, the City of Sydney’s website, Safe City team, and through local community organisations. This includes REDWatch, Redfern Legal Centre, Counterpoint, and tenant organisations including the Waterloo Neighbourhood Advisory Board, the Waterloo Redevelopment Group and the Waterloo Public Housing Action Group.

NSW Land and Housing Corporation has previously consulted the community to inform its plan for the site.

You can sign up to be notified when community consultation starts for the Waterloo estate.

If you have any questions about future tenant relocations, please contact the NSW Land and Housing Corporation on 1800 738 718 or email [email protected].

Tenants can seek independent advice from Redfern Legal Centre’s Inner Sydney Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service on 02 9696 5975.

Waterloo metro station is now under construction.

In December 2019 the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment approved a state significant development application for the block above and around the metro station.

The approval requires that a minimum of 5% of residential floor area is used as affordable housing and that 70 social housing dwellings are transferred to the NSW Land and Housing Corporation.

Separate development applications for each stage of this project must be lodged with and assessed by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

Details are available on the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s website.

The following is a selection of studies and reports. Please refer to the Council business papers for February 2021 for the full range of supporting documents.  

Population and demographic study

The Waterloo south population and demographic study (PDF 6MB) provides a profile of the Waterloo precinct today and presents forecast population and employment growth for the area.

Economic development, local retail and services study

The economic development, local retail and services study (PDF 9MB) addresses the retail and local services needs and opportunities for Waterloo south. It considers that retail and ancillary non-retail should meet the diverse needs of local residents and workers, and the mix of retail and services could attract people to the area from the broader region.

Planning proposal transport study

The Waterloo south planning proposal transport study (PDF 10.2MB) is a traffic and transport assessment that considers, public transport, active transport, parking, road network and vehicle access. It finds that the overall transport network will cater to all demands generated in Waterloo south assuming a range of interventions such as the new Metro station, bus service improvements, improved pedestrian permeability, transformation of George Street and cycling routes.

Climate change adaptation report and ecologically sustainable development study

The Waterloo climate change adaptation report (PDF 4.5MB) and Waterloo south ecologically sustainable development study (PDF 3.5MB) detail how the Waterloo proposal may address the social, environmental and economic effects of climate change on the future community of Waterloo south and issues of sustainable and resilient development.

Social Sustainability studies

The social baseline report – Waterloo (PDF 5.49MB) is the first stage of the Waterloo social sustainability study. The aim of the report is to understand the current social context, including the communities and social infrastructure in and around Waterloo south.

The Waterloo south social sustainability report (PDF 10.37MB) discusses findings on existing or planned strategies to maximise positive social outcomes for current, neighbouring and future communities throughout the Waterloo project. It also makes recommendations on opportunities to enhance or implement additional strategies that may provide improved outcomes for the Waterloo community.

Housing diversity and affordability study

The Waterloo south housing diversity and affordability study (PDF 9.43MB) provides baseline investigations for the Waterloo estate and assesses how the proposed planning framework amendments will impact on housing affordability and diversity.

The analysis considers the state and local housing policy context and housing needs for Waterloo south and contends that the proposed redevelopment of Waterloo south aligns with existing government policy that aims to build more social housing.

The report considers that the proposed dwelling mix will result in housing that is suited to the needs of the local population, will increase housing diversity, and deliver better quality dwellings and public domain.

Community consultation report

The February 2019 options testing consultation report key findings (PDF 19.74KB) documents the outcomes of consultation for the Waterloo estate redevelopment undertaken by the NSW Government following the release of 3 redevelopment options in 2018. It also incorporates an overview of the findings from the initial visioning phase of consultation.

Both the visioning and options testing phases of consultation have involved discussion of the Waterloo redevelopment with a focus on 5 themes:

• culture and community life
• transport, streets and connections
• housing and neighbourhood design
• community facilities, services and shops
• environment and open space.

NSW Land and Housing Corporation released a preferred masterplan for the redevelopment of the Waterloo housing estate in January 2019. 

In March 2019, Council held an extraordinary meeting to consider a report on a better way for the community.

The City hosted a public meeting on 6 March 2019, the City’s director of planning, development and transport, Graham Jahn gave a presentation on the City’s alternative approach to the Waterloo housing estate. You can dowload a transcript of the meeting (PDF 0.3MB).

The City’s alternative approach (PPTX 294MB) has been considered by the NSW Land and Housing Corporation in preparing the planning proposal lodged in May 2020. 

Maps (open in a new window)

• Planning proposal request that’s been assessed by the City of Sydney
• Previous masterplan – Waterloo estate preferred masterplan – NSW Land and Housing
• Previous masterplan – Waterloo estate alternative approach – City of Sydney

This 23-minute webinar is presented by Peter John Cantrill, program manager – urban design at the City of Sydney.

It includes an explanation of the planning proposal request and documents lodged with the City of Sydney by the NSW Land and Housing Corporation in May 2020 for the redevelopment of the Waterloo estate (south).

Webinar

Flyer - February 2021 PDF 1.9MB