Planning & Development

North West Growth Centre

The North West Growth Centre comprises approximately 10,000 hectares of land, located within the LGA boundaries of Blacktown, The Hills and Hawkesbury. Future urban development within the Growth Centre will accommodate up to 70,000 new homes and account for a total population of around 200,000. The strategic vision for the Growth Centre is set out in the North West Structure Plan, which was adopted by the NSW Government in 2006.

The North West Growth Centre has been divided into precincts that will be released by the Minister for Planning & Infrastructure in stages so they can be properly planned to meet the need for future urban land. There are 16 precincts in the North West Growth Centre, including 12 within the Blacktown LGA in various stages of planning.

When a precinct is released, Council works with the Department of Planning & Infrastructure to advise on the future zoning and development controls for that precinct. This is done within the strategic framework set by the North West Structure Plan. Other relevant documents include:

  • State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Region Growth Centres) 2006 - the environmental planning instrument which sets controls for the North West and South West Growth Centres of Sydney.
  • Growth Centres Development Code - provides the basis for the planning and design of Precincts and neighbourhoods and guides the studies required during precinct planning.
  • Growth Centres Infrastructure Plan.
  • Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036 and North West Sub-Regional Strategy.
  • Growth Centres Employment and Retail Strategy.

Further information on the North West Growth Centre and Precincts within the Blacktown LGA is available on the Department of Planning & Infrastructure website www.gcc.nsw.gov.au

 NWGC Precinct Status - Summary Table.pdf

Riverstone West Precinct

The rezoning of the Riverstone West Precinct was approved by the (then) Minister for Planning in August 2009 via an Amendment to State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Region Growth Centres) 2006, commonly known as "the Growth Centres SEPP". A Development Control Plan (DCP), known as "Riverstone West DCP 2009", was also approved by the Director General of the (then) Department of Planning on 6 August 2009. The DCP is an accompanying precinct planning document providing guidelines on future development within the precinct.

The 285 hectare Riverstone West Precinct has the potential to provide land for around 12,000 jobs in Sydney's northwest. Once developed, the precinct will feature:

  • 16 hectares of land zoned for commercial uses in a business park setting with up to 250,000m2 of commercial office floorspace.
  • 72 hectares of land zoned for industrial uses, with approximately 500,000m2 of industrial floorspace.
  • 16 hectares of land zoned for light industrial uses.
  • 76 hectares of land zoned for environmental conservation, including a 58 hectare Environmental Corridor comprising riparian lands and native vegetation.
  • 39 hectares of private recreation land.
  • an intermodal transport facility and new electricity substation.
  • potential for a sustainable energy plant located in the vicinity of the existing sewerage treatment plant and Transgrid substation.
  • a new sub-arterial road and heavy vehicle route connecting Bandon Road in the north and Garfield Road in the south, with the potential to relieve heavy vehicle traffic around the Riverstone Town Centre and reduce impacts on surrounding residential areas.
  • a new underpass crossing of the Richmond Railway Line at Bandon Road.

Alex Avenue and Riverstone Precincts

The rezoning of the Alex Avenue and Riverstone Precincts was approved by the (then) Minister for Planning on 17 May 2010 via an Amendment to the Growth Centres SEPP. The Blacktown City Council Growth Centre Precincts Development Control Plan 2010 ("the Growth Centres DCP") was also approved by the Director General of the (then) Department of Planning and came into effect on 19 May 2010. The DCP is an accompanying precinct planning document providing guidelines on future development within the Precinct.

The 420 hectare Alex Avenue Precinct will deliver capacity for more than 6,300 new dwellings to accommodate 18,000 residents. It will also feature:

  • 32 hectares of open space.
  • 2 new schools with adjoining playing fields.
  • at least 25,000m2 of retail space.
  • rail duplication.
  • a new railway station at Schofields with a commuter car park.
  • upgrades to Hambledon, Burdekin and Schofields Roads, including new rail crossings at Burdekin and Schofields Roads.
  • walking and cycle paths along major roads and open space corridors.

The 975 hectare Riverstone Precinct will deliver capacity for more than 9,000 new dwellings to accommodate almost 27,000 residents. It will also feature:

  • 58 hectares of open space.
  • 57 hectares of conservation reserves.
  • 14 hectares of employment land.
  • 3 new primary schools and a new K-12 school.
  • rail duplication.
  • a new railway station at Vineyard with a commuter car park.
  • Neighbourhood Centres at Vineyard and Schofields.
  • a new Community Services Hub at Riverstone.
  • upgrades to major roads.
  • walking and cycle paths along major roads and open space corridors.

Marsden Park Industrial Precinct

In November 2010, the NSW Government finalised the rezoning of the Marsden Park Industrial Precinct by amending the Growth Centres SEPP. The Growth Centres DCP Schedule for the Marsden Park Industrial Precinct was also approved by the Director General of the (then) Department of Planning and came into effect on 30 November 2011.

The Precinct was rezoned under the Government's Precinct Acceleration Protocol, which allows planning and development to proceed earlier than proposed under the Government's program, provided there is no additional cost to taxpayers.

The 551 hectare Marsden Park Industrial Precinct has the potential to provide land for around 10,000 jobs and 1,200 homes in Sydney's northwest. Once developed, the precinct will feature:

  • 70 hectares of commercial land.
  • 40 hectares of bulky goods retailing.
  • 206 hectares of industrial land.
  • a mix of residential housing close to the planned Marsden Park Town Centre just to the north of the Precinct to accommodate 3,500 people.
  • 63 hectares of conservation land and open space.

Area 20 Precinct

On 21 October 2011, the NSW Government finalised the rezoning of Area 20 Precinct by amending the Growth Centres SEPP. The Growth Centres DCP Schedule for the Area 20 Precinct was also approved by the Director General of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure and came into effect on 1 November 2011.

The 245 hectare precinct will deliver capacity for approximately 2,500 new dwellings to accommodate around 6,400 residents. Once developed, the precinct will feature:

  • provision for the proposed North West Rail Link (NWRL) corridor extension, including a new railway station, commuter car parks and train stabling yard.
  • a Village Centre linked to the station. a 6 hectare light industrial area on land surrounding the stabling yard.
  • 19 hectares of local open space for recreation and sports.
  • protected areas of environmental importance and native vegetation.

The approved Precinct Plan identifies land surrounding the proposed Cudgegong Station area where development control provisions will be reviewed. The Department of Planning & Infrastructure will consult with the NWRL project team to determine when a new DCP can be expected for this area.

Schofields Precinct

The Schofields Precinct was released in October 2009. The 465 hectare precinct is expected to provide around 3,300 dwellings to accommodate a population of 9,560 people. Development in the precinct will be supported by a new Town Centre in the adjoining Alex Avenue Precinct and a new rail station as part of the Quakers Hill to Richmond Rail Line Duplication Project.

The exhibition of the Schofields Draft Precinct Planning Package closed on 28 September 2011. Key features of the Schofields Precinct Plan include:

  • 3,300 dwellings for 9,560 residents with a diversity of housing.
  • 30 hectares of public open space and 3 hectares of private open space to meet the sporting and recreation needs of the community.
  • a new primary school.
  • 3 Local and Neighbourhood Centres to support the community.
  • walking and cycling paths, as well as designated bike paths.
  • an extension of Schofields Road to a 4-lane divided carriageway transit boulevard and the extension of Burdekin Road through the Precinct (both extensions will ultimately connect to Richmond Road).
  • new bus connections.
  • relocated Schofields Station.
  • preservation of 38 hectares of existing native vegetation within riparian corridors.

Following the exhibition, the Department of Planning & Infrastructure will examine the comments and submissions received during the exhibition period. The Precinct Planning Package will then be finalised and submitted to the Minister, along with a Submissions report.

Marsden Park Precinct

The Marsden Park Precinct was released for planning in July 2011 under the Government's Precinct Acceleration Protocol, which allows planning and development to proceed earlier than proposed under the Government's program, provided there is no additional cost to taxpayers.

The Marsden Park Precinct totals over 1,800 hectares and is expected to accommodate up to 10,000 dwellings. Marsden Park is expected to feature a Town Centre with 30,000 m2 of retail space and some 50 hectares of public recreation space.

Mardens Park Precinct - News

Precinct planning has now begun in Marsden Park. During precinct planning, the Department of Planning & Infrastructure partners with Blacktown City Council to identify the future zoning and development controls for the precinct. This requires extensive investigations ranging from Aboriginal and European heritage to land capability and contamination, noise, odour, transport, biodiversity, water cycle management, economics and employment, and community facilities and open space.

A draft precinct planning package will be publicly exhibited following the completion of all background investigations, providing the community with the opportunity to review and comment on the Precinct's future zoning. The Department will consider all submissions regarding the draft packages before the precinct planning package is finalised.