Agenda of Council Meeting - Wednesday, 16 August 2023

Council Meeting

16 August 2023

Item No: C08/23-366

Investment Report - July 2023

Directorate: Corporate Performance

Responsible Officer: Director Corporate Performance (Deputy GM)

Community Strategic Plan Goal: Delivering Sustainable Infrastructure and Services

Summary

This report provides an update on the performance and compliance of Council’s investment portfolio for the month of July 2023.

Recommendation

That Council receive the July 2023 Investment Report.

Report

Included in this report are the following items that highlight Council’s investment portfolio performance for July 2023.

Council Investments as at 31 July 2023

Council’s investment portfolio has a current market value of $223,869,850 and has returned 3.32% in the last 12 months.

The following table reflects Council’s holding in various investment categories:

Face Value = capital value to be repaid upon maturity

Purchase Price = capital value +/- premiums or discounts

Current Value = current market value + accrued interest

Investment Portfolio Performance

Council’s investment portfolio returned 0.42% (actual) for the month on a marked-to-market basis versus the bank bill index benchmark’s 0.37% return. Council's managed fund investments may experience monthly volatility as financial markets undergo changes in outlook. However, such investments are expected to yield a favourable return over the long term. For the past 12 months, the investment portfolio has returned 3.32% versus the bank bill index benchmark’s 3.15%.

As at 31 July 2023 the cumulative interest earned was $845,692. This is $501,692 higher than the year-to-date budget of $344,000.

The performance chart below shows Council’s rolling 12 monthly return versus benchmark over the past 5 years. Each data point is the 12 month return for the stated month end:

Community Engagement

There are no consultation processes for Council associated with this report.

Policy Implications

There are no policy implications for Council associated with this report.

Risk Implications

The investment portfolio's primary objective is the preservation of capital. The investment strategy seeks to ensure security and safeguarding of the portfolio by managing credit and interest rate risk within predetermined thresholds and parameters established in Council's Investment Policy, guided by the investment advisor. In pursuit of favourable returns, Council's investment decisions are made There are no policy implications for Council associated with this report.

Financial Implications

There are no financial implications for Council associated with this report.

CONCLUSION

Council hereby certifies that the investments listed within this report have been made in accordance with Section 625 of the Local Government Act 1993, Clause 212 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 and Council’s Investment Policy.

Attachments

1. Investment Report July 2023

2. Investment Commentary July 2023

Council Meeting

16 August 2023

Item No: C08/23-367

Six-Monthly Performance Report on the Operational Plan 2022-2023

Directorate: Corporate Performance

Responsible Officer: Director Corporate Performance (Deputy GM)

Community Strategic Plan Goal: Providing Local Leadership

Summary

Council’s Operational Plan 2022-23 identified activities planned for delivery throughout the year, as well as the allocated budget for the delivery of Services. These activities are in direct response to the strategic goals and community vision contained within the Community Strategic Plan 2017-27.

The Six-Monthly Performance Report provides an update on Council’s progress in implementing the planned activities and is provided under Attachment 1 to this report.

Recommendation

That Council receive the report.

Report

This report provides an update to Council and the community on the progress made in implementing the activities outlined in the Operational Plan 2022-23. This is the second six-monthly report on the Operational Plan 2022-23 and represents performance as at the end of the 2022-23 period. A comprehensive full year review will be provided in the Annual Report 2022-23 which will be reported to Council in November 2023.

Of Council’s 141 operational activities, 98% were completed or were ongoing activities running on track against their target. This result reflects extremely effective service delivery through the year with only 3 activities discontinued or needing attention.

Highlights from the Reporting Period

Service delivery highlights from January to June 2023 by Directorate are outlined below:

Community and Culture

· Cumberland City Council hosted a Youth Mental Health Summit on 28 February, with 92 participants attending including the Honourable Emma McBride. This summit assisted Council to work with young people, State and Federal agencies to establish a Youth Mental Health Action Plan.

· Council held several major events including:

- Lunar New Year in February, this included a weekend of events across three locations: Outdoor Cinema at Wyatt Park, Lidcombe; Lunar Showcase at Auburn Central and Lunar Local community day at Berala Community Centre.

- Ramadan Street Food Festival in Auburn, this was held on April, presenting a vibrant night of food, culture and community with local food businesses and visiting food trucks enlivening Auburn Road.

City Services

· ‘Auburn Botanical Garden Playground’ project progressed to the design and approval stage.

· ‘Civic Park, Pendle Hill’ is undergoing a major revamp. Construction of Stormwater piping work is 90% complete.

· Attendance at Council’s Swim Centres has almost doubled and a rise in enrolments has resulted in an increase of learn to swim attendances of close to 50%. Additionally, Council has engaged in conversations with external community groups to expand learn to swim programs to disadvantaged community members.

Environment & Planning

· Council introduced the ‘Safer Cities, Her Way’ program to trial a place-based approach to improve women, girls and gender-diverse people’s perception of safety. A $1 million grant was received, and Cumberland delivered: 3 community walk-shops, 3 community pop-ups and 4 in-school place planning and ‘Her Ways’ Workshops.

· Cumberland received a $1.8 million grant to implement the Go FOGO Cumberland program, which supports the delivery of new weekly food only or food organics and garden organics services to the community. This funding will assist Council to implement the program which will become mandatory for all Councils by 2030.

· Cumberland hosted the Heritage Awards, which were delivered at the Holroyd Centre in June 2023. The awards recognised the time and effort of our community in maintaining and restoring their heritage properties. Over 100 entries were received from our schools for the colouring competition.

Corporate Performance

· Council’s focus has remained on ensuring fair and equal access to community facilities. We actively collaborated with community groups to enhance benefits for both community and Council. Council continues to build on relationships with business partners to implement activities and programs from the Community Facilities Strategy that has a focus on catering to young people and families, fostering and facilitating access to cultural activities, and promoting healthy lifestyles.

· Council received an Honourable Mention in the 2023 National Awards for Local Government for its Mentoring and Development Program, and Council is proud to be offering this program again in 2023-2024.

· Improving Performance and Culture (IPC) was a finalist at the LG Excellence Awards held in June 2023, recognising the significant impact this program has had on developing Council’s leadership.

Governance & Risk

· At the LG Excellence Awards held in June, Council received a highly commended award for the Digitisation and Process Uplift of Risk Assessments.

A detailed Six-Monthly Performance Report update on Council’s progress and performance during the final six months of the reporting period is included under Attachment 1 to this report.

Community Engagement

The Six-Monthly Performance Report will be placed on Council’s website for public viewing.

Policy Implications

There are no policy implications for Council associated with this report.

Risk Implications

There are no risk implications for Council associated with this report.

Financial Implications

There are no financial implications for Council associated with this report.

CONCLUSION

This report provides an update to Council and the community on the progress made in implementing the activities outlined in the Operational Plan 2022-23. The results in the report reflect a high standard of service delivery through the reporting period, directly contributing to fulfilling the strategic goals in the Community Strategic Plan 2017-27.

Attachments

1. Six-Monthly Performance Report

Council Meeting

16 August 2023

Item No: C08/23-368

Draft Local Shops Study

Directorate: Environment and Planning

Responsible Officer: Director Environment & Planning

Community Strategic Plan Goal: Enhancing the Natural and Built Environment

Summary

Local shops in Cumberland are important in servicing the local communities and supporting the day-to-day needs of residents and visitors. From a planning perspective, it is critical for Council to understand the existing conditions of these shops, the challenges and opportunities they are facing to identify how the local shops can be supported and enhanced. To this end, a draft Cumberland Local Shops Study has been prepared for consideration by Council.

An analysis was undertaken of 25 selected local shops in Cumberland, with consideration of urban design, place, public domain and economics. The outcomes of analysis have informed a typology of six local shop categories, as well as recommendations on future opportunities regarding public domain improvements, place making and activation, and planning controls.

It is recommended that Council place the draft Cumberland Local Shops Study on public exhibition for a period of 28 days, with a report to be provided back to Council.

Recommendation

That Council place the Draft Cumberland Local Shops Study on public exhibition for a period of 28 days, with a report to be provided back to Council.

Report

Background

Cumberland 2030: Our Local Strategic Planning Statement includes a centres framework which includes a categorisation of centres, including:

· Merrylands as a strategic centre

· Four principal centres at Auburn, Granville, Lidcombe and Wentworthville

· Nine local centres at Berala, Greystanes, Guildford, Merrylands East, Merrylands West, Pemulwuy, Pendle Hill, Regents Park and Toongabbie

While there is a strategic planning work program for the centres covered above, further planning work on the role, economic drivers and future considerations for neighbourhood and local shops is required.

In addition, the recent NSW Government Employment Zone reforms consolidated the previous B1 Neighbourhood Centre and B2 Local Centre zonings into an E1 Local Centre zoning. The existing Cumberland Employment and Innovation Lands Strategy evaluates the previous B2 Local Centre and industrial zoned areas across Cumberland. This approach left a gap where the B1 Neighbourhood Centre zoned areas were not considered for their function and contribution to the community cohesiveness and productivity of Cumberland City.

Local Shops Study

· Investigate the role that local shops play within Cumberland, particularly following the recent Employment Zones Reform

· Better support and protect small-scale local shops

· Provide recommendations about the desired character, zoning, uses and potential areas for improvement

Based on the previous zoning of B1 Neighbourhood Centres, 41 locations across Cumberland were covered under this category. For the study, 25 of these locations were selected for further consideration. A list of these locations is provided in Table 1, as well as shown graphically in Figure 1.

Local Shops ID (LS XX)	Address
LS 1	Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre (381 Merrylands Road and Surrounds, Merrylands)
LS 2	Hilltop Road Neighbourhood Centre (3 Hilltop Road and Surrounds, Merrylands)
LS 3	6 Louis Street, Granville and Surrounds (known as the Arida Centre)
LS 4	12 Dellwood Street, South Granville and Surrounds
LS 5	33-39 Irrigation Road, South Wentworthville
LS 6	121 and 123 Fairfield Road, Guildford West
LS 7	176 and 223-505 Fowler Road, Guildford West
LS 8	21-25 and 27-39 Dell Street, Smithfield (known as Woodpark Shopping Centre)
LS 9	51 Coleman Street, Merrylands
LS 10	49 Old Prospect Road, South Wentworthville and Surrounds
LS 11	342, 344, 348 Blaxcell Street, South Granville and 1 Guildford Road South Granville
LS 12	165 Clyde Street, South Granville (and surrounds)
LS 13	52-56 Excelsior Street, Merrylands
LS 14	Clyde Street / Rawson Road ‘Service Centre’ Cluster: 48-62 Wellington Road and 359-365 Clyde St, South Granville in addition to the nearby E1 zoned land at 2-24 Rawson Rd, Guildford
LS 15	38-42 Rawson Road, Guildford
LS 16	234-238 Cumberland Road, Auburn
LS 17	Bathurst Street Shops: 41-51 Bathurst Street, Greystanes and Surrounds
LS 18	Damien Avenue Shops: 7 Lucinda Road, Greystanes
LS 19	Maple Street Shops: 41-49 Maple Street, Greystanes
LS 20	Carnation Street: 20-32 Carnation St, Greystanes
LS 21	126-130 Hawkesview Street, Guildford
LS 22	291-295 Clyde Street, South Granville
LS 23	174-178 Excelsior Street, Guildford
LS 24	271-277 Excelsior Street, Guildford
LS 25	17 Brooks Circuit, Lidcombe

Table 1: List of Local Shops Identified for Study

Figure 1: Location of Local Shops Identified for Study

An analysis was undertaken of the selected local shops, with consideration of urban design, place, public domain and economics. The outcomes of analysis have informed a typology of six local shop categories, as outlined in Table 2, including destination local shops, high street shops, retail destination, convenience based shops, service centre and secondary commercial centre.

The study also identifies a range of recommendations regarding future opportunities to support the needs of local shops in Cumberland. These include:

· Public domain improvements: targeted improvements to streetscapes to enhance the amenity of these locations, such as paving, furniture and landscaping

· Place making and activation: targeted improvements to make local shops more attractive to visit, such as more pedestrian friendly environments, public art, traffic speeds and outdoor dining

· Planning controls: two locations are identified for proposed changes to planning control to support future redevelopment – Burnett Street Neighbourhood Shops and Louis St shops. These locations are within the Merrylands and Granville areas, which are included in Council’s current strategic planning work program. Three other locations have also been identified for longer term consideration.

It is recommended that Council place the draft Cumberland Local Shops Study on public exhibition for a period of 28 days, with a report to be provided back to Council.

No.	Local Shops Typology	Definition / Key Factors	Example
1	Destination Local Shops	· Provide unique products, services and shopping experiences · Draw customers from beyond the immediate community	Burnett Street, Merrylands
2	High Street Shops	· Situate along the main street of an area · Integral part of the community providing employment and gathering place	Hilltop Road, Merrylands
3	Retail Destination	· A convenient shopping destination in a residential neighbourhood · Serve the immediate surrounding area providing everyday essentials	Louis Street, Granville
4	Convenience Based Shops	· Locate in easily accessible locations with extended hours of operation offering daily living items	Dellwood Street, South Granville
5	Service Centre	· Commercial development combines fuel station with other amenities, typically located along major roadways or busy road	Fowler Road, Guildford West
6	Secondary Commercial Centre	· Provide affordable office space to small and growing businesses, typically near public transport and offer ample parking	Clyde Street, Granville

Table 2: Typology of Local Shops

Community Engagement

Subject to endorsement, the draft Cumberland Local Shops Study will be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days. A range of engagement activities will be undertaken, including information on Council’s Have Your Say page, corflutes at identified local shops and targeted engagement with businesses at these locations.

Policy Implications

The draft Cumberland Local Shops Study is consistent with current State and local strategies and plans. There is also an opportunity for the study to inform updates to these strategies and plans when these are undertaken in future years.

Risk Implications

There are no risk implications for Council associated with this report.

Financial Implications

There are no financial implications for Council associated with this report.

CONCLUSION

A draft Cumberland Local Shops Study has been prepared for consideration by Council, with analysis of 25 locations, typology of local shop categories and future opportunities. It is recommended that the draft study be placed on public exhibition, with a further report to be provided to Council.

Attachments

1. Draft Cumberland Local Shops Study

2. Urban Design, Place and Public Domain Analysis

3. Economic and Retail Analysis

Council Meeting

16 August 2023

Council Meeting

16 August 2023

Council Meeting

16 August 2023

Item No: C08/23-369

Planning Proposals for Targeted Sites in Merrylands and Guildford - Update and Next Steps

Directorate: Environment and Planning

Responsible Officer: Director Environment & Planning

Community Strategic Plan Goal: Enhancing the Natural and Built Environment

Summary

In June 2021, following a recommendation from the Cumberland Local Planning Panel, two planning proposals for targeted sites in Merrylands and Guildford were reported to Council. At the meeting, Council resolved for the planning proposals to be forwarded to the Department of Planning and Environment for a Gateway Determination.

In December 2021, Council received notification from the Department that the Planning Proposal required additional information prior to being considered for a Gateway Determination. Further discussions with Departmental officers indicated that masterplanning through a ‘centres based’ or ‘place based’ approach was needed and that this work would also need to be accompanied by supporting technical analysis. In addition, Departmental officers noted that Council planning work had been undertaken in recent years for the Merrylands Town Centre.

Based on Council’s resolution in June 2021 and advice received from the Department of Planning and Environment in December 2021, a further review has been undertaken by Council officers. This report provides an update and outlines the next steps regarding the targeted planning proposals.

Recommendation

That Council:

1. Note the status of the Planning Proposal for targeted sites in Merrylands and Guildford.

2. Endorse that a Council initiated Planning Proposal for the following locations not proceed at this time, as outlined in this report:

i) Merrylands Road (between Burnett Street and Chetwynd Road), Merrylands

ii) 7-10 Wayman Place, Merrylands

iii) 242-252 Pitt Street, Merrylands

iv) Merrylands Road (east of station), Merrylands

v) 32-34 Marian Street and 2A Bury Road, Guildford

3. Note that landowner initiated Planning Proposals may be received for these locations and would be assessed and reported to Council in accordance with statutory and policy requirements.

4. Endorse that a Council initiated Planning Proposal be progressed to cover the Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre in Merrylands, and that the Planning Proposal be forwarded to the Department of Planning and Environment for a Gateway Determination.

5. Note that the endorsed draft amendments to the Cumberland Development Plan for Merrylands Town Centre continue to public exhibition, as the amendments are not impacted by the recommendations in this report.

6. Note that the endorsed Draft Merrylands Town Centre Public Domain Plan continue to public exhibition, subject to minor amendments as outlined in this report.

7. Note that the Department of Planning and Environment has advised that the Planning Proposal for Victor Brazier Park not proceed.

Report

Background

In July 2020, Council endorsed an updated Planning Proposal for the new Cumberland LEP to be forwarded to the Department of Planning and Environment (the Department) for legal drafting and finalisation. At the same time, Council endorsed the strategic planning work program for Cumberland City’s key centres and strategic corridors, as shown in Figure 1. As part of this decision, further consideration of planning controls for sites in Merrylands and Guildford (beyond what was included in the Cumberland LEP) would be undertaken as part of Council’s strategic planning work program (Stages 1 and 3).

In September 2020, Council considered several additional submissions received from local stakeholders on the draft Cumberland LEP, including site-specific proposals in Merrylands and Guildford. Whilst Council endorsed the proposals to be included in the Cumberland LEP, the Department indicated a separate process would be required to progress these proposals.

Following Council’s resolution of the strategic planning work program, Council officers then proceeded with the preparation of planning proposals for targeted sites in Merrylands and Guildford. Early consultation on proposed planning controls for targeted sites in Merrylands and Guildford was undertaken in March and April 2021. This consultation enabled feedback from a broad range of stakeholders.

In June 2021, following a recommendation from the Cumberland Local Planning Panel, the draft Planning Proposals for targeted sites in Merrylands and Guildford and associated draft amended Development Control Plans were reported to Council. At the meeting, Council resolved to progress those planning proposals and forward to the Department of Planning and Environment for a Gateway Determination.

Figure 1. Council’s Strategic Planning Work Program

Strategic Planning Work for Merrylands

Following Council’s resolution in June 2021 and advice received from the Department of Planning and Environment in December 2021, a further review has been undertaken by Council officers. The following considerations have been identified:

· Opportunities for a masterplanning approach in the Merrylands area, with reference to previous strategic planning undertaken for Merrylands Town Centre

· Recent changes to State policy, such as the Employment Zones Reform and updated Guidelines for the Preparation of Planning Proposals

· Recent local strategic planning work, such as the Local Shops Study and planning for the Woodville Road Corridor

· Development activity in the Merrylands area

Based on these considerations, it is recommended that a more focused approach is undertaken on Council initiated efforts for strategic planning in the Merrylands area. Specifically, it is recommended that the Planning Proposal be updated for the Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre in line with the findings of the Local Shops Study, and that no further action is undertaken by Council on other locations identified in the Merrylands area. It is noted that landowner initiated Planning Proposals may be received for these locations and would be assessed and reported to Council in accordance with statutory and policy requirements. Further details on the recommended approach for various locations in Merrylands is shown in Table 1.

Site	Recommended Planning Approach
Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre (including 2 Ruth Street and 6 Burnett Street), Merrylands	Progress as a Planning Proposal, informed by findings in the Local Shops Study.
Merrylands Road (between Burnett St and Chetwynd Road), Merrylands	No further action on these sites, as they are difficult to consider as part of master planned approach given their distance from the Merrylands town centre.
7-10 Wayman Place, Merrylands	No further action on this proposal, as it is located in the Merrylands town centre that was considered in previous planning work.
242-252 Pitt Street, Merrylands	No further action on this proposal, as it is located in the Merrylands town centre that was considered in previous planning work.
Merrylands Road (east of station), Merrylands	No further action at this time, as it is in close proximity to the proposed Woodville Road corridor planning proposal. May consider as part of future strategic planning work program.

Table 1: Recommended Planning Approach for Targeted Sites in Merrylands

Updated Planning Proposal

Based on the recommendation by Council officers, an updated Planning Proposal has been prepared to cover the Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre in Merrylands. The Planning Proposal seeks to amend the Cumberland LEP through zoning, height and density controls to reconcile minor anomalies in the context of surrounding land, as well as to support mixed use development as part of the neighbourhood centre offering services and local job opportunities. This proposal is consistent with the findings of the Local Shops Study. The proposed amendments are shown in Figure 2, and includes the following:

· Extend the E1 Local Centre zoning to include adjoining sites at 6 Burnett Street, 2 Ruth Street and 2 Fowler Road, Merrylands

· Apply a 17m height limit for the Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre (including 6 Burnett Street, 2 Ruth Street and 2 Fowler Road, Merrylands)

· Apply the following FSR for the Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre (including 6 Burnett Street, 2 Ruth Street and 2 Fowler Road, Merrylands):

o A FSR of 1.8:1 for the land north of Merrylands Road and west of Burnett Street

o A FSR of 1.5:1 for the land south of Merrylands Road and west of Burnett Street

o A FSR of 1.4:1 for the land south of Merrylands Road and east of Burnett Street

Existing zoning Proposed zoning

A map of a neighborhood

Description automatically generated

Existing height of buildings Proposed height of buildings

Existing floor space ratio Proposed floor space ratio

A map of a neighborhood

Description automatically generated

Figure 2: Proposed planning controls for Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre

The Planning Proposal for the Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre is provided at Attachment 1. The proposal is aligned with the strategic outcomes identified in Council’s strategic planning and policy documents including:

· Cumberland 2030: Our Local Strategic Planning Statement

· Cumberland Local Housing Strategy

· Technical analysis of urban design and built form, traffic and transport, flooding and economics

It is estimated that the Planning Proposal for the Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre will provide for over 260 additional dwellings in Merrylands, which will contribute to Cumberland’s housing target of 28,000 to 28,500 additional dwellings between 2016-2036.

It is recommended that Council endorse that a Council initiated Planning Proposal be progressed to cover the Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre in Merrylands, and that the Planning Proposal be forwarded to the Department of Planning and Environment for a Gateway Determination.

Development Control Plan

Minor changes have been identified to the Development Control Plan for sites in Merrylands. This will ensure consistency with Council’s position on the closure of Finns Lane, Merrylands, and planning controls for the area east of Merrylands Station. The draft Development Control Plan amendments for these locations are provided at Attachments 2 and 3. These amendments were endorsed by Council in June 2021. As the original planning proposal is not recommended to progress, it is intended that the Draft Development Control Plan amendments continue to public exhibition separately, as the amendments are not impacted by the recommendations in this report.

Public Domain Plan

A Public Domain Plan has also been prepared to guide the delivery of an enhanced public realm for the Merrylands Town Centre. The Plan will support future work by Council, landowners and developers in achieving the desired public domain outcomes for this area. The draft Public Domain Plan is provided as Attachment 4. The draft plan was endorsed by Council in June 2021. At the time, the Council report noted that this would be exhibited at the same time as the planning proposal once Gateway Determination was received. As the original planning proposal is not recommended to progress, it is intended that the Draft Merrylands Town Centre Public Domain Plan continue to public exhibition separately, subject to minor amendments to the document, including administrative changes to text and formatting, and an updated plan for the Merrylands Civic Square to reflect the scope of the delivered project.

Strategic Planning Work for Guildford

· Opportunities for a masterplanning approach in the Guildford area

· Recent changes to State policy, such as the Employment Zones Reform and updated Guidelines for the Preparation of Planning Proposals

· Recent local strategic planning work, such as planning for the Woodville Road Corridor

· Development activity in the Guildford area

Based on these considerations, it is recommended that no further work is undertaken by Council in the Guildford area at this time. It is noted that landowner initiated Planning Proposals may be received for the identified location and would be assessed and reported to Council in accordance with statutory and policy requirements. Separately, it is noted that the Department of Planning and Environment does not support the rezoning and reclassification of a small parcel of land at Victor Brazier Park in Guildford and a Gateway Determination to not proceed has been issued. Further details on the recommended approach for locations in Guildford is shown in Table 2.

Site

Recommended Planning Approach

32-34 Marian Street and 2A Bury Road, Guildford

No further action on this proposal, as the site does not justify a masterplan for the Guildford town centre at this time. A landowner initiated planning proposal may be considered in the future.

Victor Brazier Park, Guildford

No further action on proposal, as not supported by the Department of Planning and Environment

Table 2: Recommended Planning Approach for Targeted Sites in Guildford

Cumberland Local Planning Panel

The draft Planning Proposal for sites in Merrylands and Guildford, and Victor Brazier Park, were reported to the Cumberland Local Planning Panel on 26 May 2021. The minutes of the meeting are provided at Attachment 8. The Panel generally supported the Council officer recommendations. The review undertaken by Council officers has identified some refinement in the proposed planning controls, as shown in Table 3, with the same height but lower density proposed at this location. It is noted that the Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre was considered as part of the original proposal, and the proposed planning controls for the updated Planning Proposal are not inconsistent with the advice from the Panel.

Existing

Panel

Council Endorsed

Proposed

E1 Zone

1.0:1 FSR

14m height

E1 Zone

2.0:1 FSR

17m height

E1 Zone

2.0:1 FSR

17m height

E1 Zone

1.4:1 to 1.8:1 FSR

17m height

Table 3: Comparison of Panel Advice and Updated Planning Proposal Controls

Strategic Merit Assessment

The updated Planning Proposal for the Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre is consistent with a range of regional, district and local plans.

Consistency with the Greater Sydney Region Plan

The updated Planning Proposal is consistent with the directions of the Greater Sydney Region Plan: A Metropolis of Three Cities, namely:

· A city supported by infrastructure – The planning proposal will provide development opportunities for housing and jobs within 30-minute access to a metropolitan centre (i.e. Parramatta CBD).

· Housing the city – The planning proposal will provide greater housing supply and choice.

· A well-connected city – The planning proposal will increase the percentage of dwellings located within 30 minutes by public transport of principal local centres.

· A city for people – The planning proposal will increase opportunities for more walkable neighbourhoods and ageing in place, with greater service offerings close to residential areas.

Consistency with the Central City District Plan

The updated Planning Proposal is also consistent with the priorities and actions in the Central City District Plan, namely:

· C5 Housing the city – The planning proposal will provide housing supply, choice, and affordability with access to jobs, services, and public transport.

· C6 A city of great places – The planning proposal will assist with renewing local centres by facilitating urban renewal and development.

· C10 Jobs and skills for the community – The planning proposal will facilitate redevelopment of local commercial centres increasing job opportunities in the area.

Consistency with Cumberland 2030: Our Local Strategic Planning Statement

The updated Planning Proposal is consistent with the priorities and actions in Cumberland 2030: Our Local Strategic Planning Statement, namely:

· Local Planning Priority 5 – Deliver housing diversity to suit changing needs.

· Local Planning Priority 7 – Design vibrant and attractive centres and encourage healthy living.

· Local Planning Priority 11 – Promote access to local jobs, education opportunities and care services.

Consistency with Cumberland Local Housing Strategy

The updated Planning Proposal is consistent with the Cumberland Local Housing Strategy, which has been adopted by Council. The Merrylands area is identified as a location for housing in the Strategy, which will contribute to Cumberland’s housing target of 28,000 to 28,500 additional dwellings between 2016-2036.

Community Engagement

Should Council resolve to proceed with the Planning Proposal, further community consultation would be required following a positive Gateway Determination by the Department of Planning and Environment. Those who lodged a submission in earlier rounds of consultation will be advised of the status of the proposal.

Consultation on the draft amendments to the Cumberland Development Control Plan and Draft Merrylands Town Centre Public Domain Plan would be undertaken for a period of at least 28 days in accordance with statutory and policy requirements.

Policy Implications

Policy implications for Council are outlined in the main body of this report.

Risk Implications

There are no risk implications for Council associated with this report.

Financial Implications

There are no financial implications for Council associated with the recommendations of this report.

CONCLUSION

Following Council’s resolution in June 2021 on the planning proposals for targeted sites in Merrylands and Guildford and advice from the Department of Planning Environment in December 2021, this report provides an update on further planning work undertaken and next steps.

Attachments

1. Burnett Street Neighbourhood Centre Planning Proposal

2. Draft Cumberland Development Control Plan Amendment - Finns Lane, Merrylands

3. Draft Cumberland Development Control Plan - Merrylands Station Precinct East

4. Draft Merrylands Town Centre Public Domain Plan

5. Urban Design and Built Form Analysis

6. Traffic and Transport Analysis

7. Flooding Analysis

8. Economic Benefits Analysis

9. Council Report - Planning Proposal for Targeted Sites in Merrylands and Guildford - June 2021

10. Cumberland Local Planning Panel Minutes - 26 May 2021

11. Gateway Determination - Planning Proposal for Victor Brazier Park

Council Meeting

16 August 2023

Item No: C08/23-370

Draft Submission to Sydney Metro Independent Review

Directorate: Environment and Planning

Responsible Officer: Director Environment & Planning

Community Strategic Plan Goal: Enhancing the Natural and Built Environment

Summary

In April 2023, the NSW Government announced an Independent Review on Sydney Metro. An Interim Report Summary was released by the NSW Government in July 2023, with a Final Report to be issued by the end of 2023.

Following a roundtable with the members of the Indepenendent Review, Sydney Metro and Councils along the Sydney Metro West corridor in August 2023, an invitation was provided by the review members for a formal submission to be made by Council. This report presents a summary of the submission, with key considerations outlined for Council. It is recommended that Council endorse the draft submission and forward to the Independent Review. The submission is due by the end of August 2023.

Recommendation

That Council:

1. Endorse the Draft submission in Attachment 1 and forward it to the Sydney Metro Independent Review.

2. Delegate authority to the General Manager to finalise the draft submission, including any minor typographical or editorial changes.

Report

Background

Sydney Metro is Australia’s biggest public transport program. It includes the Sydney Metro North West Line (Rouse Hill-Chatswood) (opened in 2019), Sydney Metro City and South West (due to open from 2024), Sydney Metro West (this project) and the proposed Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport (Figure 1).

Sydney Metro West will provide a direct and frequent connection between Westmead and the Sydney CBD, doubling the existing rail capacity with a target time between the two centres of around 20 minutes and helping to relieve the congested T1 Western Line, T9 Northern Line and T2 Inner West and Leppington Line.

Figure 1: Sydney Metro Network (Source: Chapter 1 – Introduction and context, page 1-2)

Figure 2: Sydney Metro West (Source: Chapter 1 – Introduction and context, page 1-3)

Planning Approval for Sydney Metro West

Sydney Metro West is being assessed as a staged infrastructure application under section 5.20 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act).

The Concept and Stage 1 for major civil construction work for Sydney Metro West between Westmead and The Bays (application number SSI-10038) was approved by the Minister for Planning on 11 March 2021.

The Concept included:

· Construction and operation of new passenger rail infrastructure between Westmead and the central business district of Sydney, including:

o Tunnels, stations (including surrounding areas) and associated rail facilities

o Stabling and maintenance facilities (including associated underground and overground connections to tunnels)

· Modification of existing rail infrastructure (including stations and surrounding areas)

· Ancillary development.

The Stage 1 component included:

· Enabling works such as demolition, utility supply to construction sites, utility adjustments, and modifications to the existing transport network

· Tunnel excavation including tunnel support activities between Westmead and The Bays

· Station excavation for new metro stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and The Bays

· Shaft excavation for services facilities

· Civil work for the stabling and maintenance facility at Clyde.

These works are underway and will continue through to the end of 2026.

The Environmental Impact Statement for Stage 2 of the planning approval process was for major civil construction between The Bays and Sydney CBD, and are now approved. Works are underway and would continue through to the end of 2025.

Stage 3 includes tunnel fit-out, construction of stations, ancillary facilities and station precincts, and operation and maintenance of the Sydney Metro West line (application number SSI-22765520) was approved by the Minister for Planning on 26 January 2023.

The Stage 3 component included:

· Fit-out of tunnels including rail systems for metro train operations

· Construction, fit-out and operation of:

o Metro station buildings and the surrounding metro precincts

o A services facility and traction substations

o A control centre, test track and stabling and maintenance facility at Clyde

· Space for non-station uses at metro stations (e.g. retail, commercial and/or community facilities)

· Provisions for over and/or adjacent station development within metro precincts

· Rail interchange support works, including work to the existing T1 Western Line at Westmead and T9 Northern Line at North Strathfield

· Transport network modifications such as new interchange facilities and changes to public transport networks to serve metro stations

· Subdivision of sites

· Operation and maintenance of the Sydney Metro West line.

These works would commence in 2024 and would continue through to the beginning of 2030.

Sydney Metro Independent Review

In April 2023, the NSW Government announced a Sydney Metro Independent Review. The review will examine value for money, delivery models, governance and passenger impact. It will thoroughly evaluate the delivery of Sydney Metro to date, the current state of progress against delivery targets and make recommendations for getting the maximum value out of the project and better integrating it with the wider network. The review will be undertaken with a view to determining how to deliver a fully integrated, safe, accessible and reliable public transport system, P shnot just a Sydney Metro. The Terms of Reference for the review is provided in Attachment 2.

On 1 August 2023, the NSW Government released the Sydney Metro Review Interim Report and announced that the commitment to the delivery of the Sydenham to Bankstown Line to metro standard, with the introduction of a temporary transport plan to enable the transition from heavy rail to metro. A summary of the Sydney Metro Review Interim Report is provided in Attachment 3.

On 7 August 2023, the members of the Independent Review held a roundtable with Councils along the Sydney Metro West corridor. The roundtable provided an opportunity for Council to provide relevant information on the following items in the Terms of Reference for the Sydney Metro Review:

3. For the Sydney Metro West project, taking account of the current status of approvals, delivery contract procurement and construction, assess:

3.1. whether any adjustments to scope should be considered to improve customer and community outcomes from the project; and

3.2. the current and alternative plans for the procurement of the remaining delivery contracts, including market appetite and extent to which lessons have been learnt from previous Sydney Metro and other mega projects.

6. Assess the extent to which broader benefits realisation from Sydney Metro is being achieved, including:

6.1. the effectiveness of arrangements between Sydney Metro and other NSW Government agencies; and

6.2. opportunities where Sydney Metro could make a stronger contribution to delivering broader government social/ economic objectives.

A Final Report for the Sydney Metro Review will be issued by the end of 2023.

Submission to Sydney Metro Independent Review

At the roundtable, the members of the Sydney Metro Independent Review invited Councils to provide a formal submission for consideration as part of the review. To this end, a draft submission has been prepared by Council officers for formal endorsement by Council. The submission includes the following information:

Sydney Metro West

· Council supports the timely construction and operation of Sydney Metro West, to ensure that suffficient rail capacity is provided for residents of Cumberland both now and in the future. A formal commitment from the NSW Government for the timely delivery of Sydney Metro West is urgently sought.

· Under approved plans, access to Westmead metro station is integrated with the existing heavy rail station. To ensure network resilience and better integrate with future housing proposed at Westmead, the separate pedestrian tunnel linking the metro station with the southern end of Westmead needs to be maintained as part of any scope review.

· Planning is advanced on a masterplan and planning proposal to support housing in close proximity to housing at Westmead. Initial community consultation has been undertaken, with further consultation later this year ahead of formal consideration by the Cumberland Local Planning Panel and Council in the first half of 2024. Delays to the delivery of Sydney Metro West will influence the alignment of growth infrastructure and additional housing to meet the needs of Cumberland and Greater Sydney.

· Should additional metro stations be contemplated along the Sydney Metro West corridor, this needs to take into account current delivery schedules with works underway, potential delays in the opening of the project, and any potential benefits for the Cumberland community. It is noted that Westmead metro station is located within Cumberland, with Sydney Olympic Park metro station in close proximity to Cumberland. It is also noted that the current alignment between Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta is closer to Silverwater than Camellia, and the gradients of the current alignment may impede on the ability for an additional metro station to be included.

· As indicated, the Sydney Olympic Park metro station is in close proximity to Cumberland. It is noted that Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 also links the metro station to Carter Street precinct, which is just outside the Cumberland area. Opportunities to extend the light rail further south to Lidcombe would enable more connectivity with the metro and increase the catchment for access. In addition, planning and design work is undertaken for an active transport link between Lidcombe and Sydney Olympic Park, known as Pippita Rail Trail, which will also assist in access and connectivity between Cumberland and the metro station ay Sydney Olympic Park. Both projects have the support of Council, and there is an opportunity for the review to consider these projects as part of an integrated transport network in realising the benefits of Sydney Metro.

Sydney Metro City and South West

· Council supports the commitment to fully deliver the Sydney Metro City and South West, including the conversion of the current heavy rail between Sydenham and Bankstown to metro standard. Further information is sought on details for the temporary transport plan during the 12 month period of conversion works along the Bankstown Line. This includes:

o details on train services between Bankstown and Lidcombe during this time;

o bus arrangements proposed at Lidcombe for the temporary transport plan, and whether there are opportunities for these arrangements can be made permanent in the future; and

o the ability for direct train services to be reintroduced from Regents Park and Berala direct to the Sydney CBD, as previously resolved by Council and committed by the then NSW Government.

Strategic transport and land use outcomes

· Council has collaborated with NSW Government agencies in the preparation and finalisation of a Westmead Place Strategy. It is important that any future changes to planning controls along metro corridors continues to support an integrated approach that reflects the local context, rather than a State imposed planning instrument on land adjoining current and future metro stations.

· An integrated and holistic approach is required to ensure that metro stations and their broader precincts meet the needs of the community. This includes ensuring that integrated public transport network connect to the station, walking and cycling is encouraged, commuter car parking is provided where appropriate, and that the public domain is upgraded and linked with the metro station footprint. Opportunities for direct State investment or grant opportunities for Council would assist in progressing any necessary works.

· In regard to future corridors, Council supports that planning work is commenced in the short term for metro corridors identified in Cumberland, including the metro corridor between Parramatta and Bankstown, and the metro corridor between Westmead and Western Sydney Airport. As part of the planning for these corridors, Council seeks support for new metro stations within the Cumberland area to meet current and future transport demand, as well as providing new travel options within the Cumberland area and beyond. Council officers request that they are involved in any planning work by the NSW Government on metro corridors.

It is recommended that Council endorse the draft submission, as provided in Attachment 1, and forward it to the Sydney Metro Independent Review. It is understood that the members of the review require this information by the end of August 2023.

Community Engagement

There are no consultation processes for Council associated with this report.

Policy Implications

The contents of the submission is consistent with Council’s strategies, plans and policies as they relate to Sydney Metro and transport accessibility in Cumberland and Greater Sydney.

Risk Implications

There are no risk implications for Council associated with this report.

Financial Implications

There are no financial implications for Council associated with this report.

CONCLUSION

This report provides an overview of a submission to the Sydney Metro Independent Review. It is recommended that Council forward the submission to the Independent Review consideration as part of the process.

Attachments

1. Submission to Sydney Metro Independent Review

2. Sydney Metro Review Terms of Reference

3. Sydney Metro Review Interim Report Summary

Council Meeting

16 August 2023

Item No: C08/23-371

Approval of Heavy Vehicle Access to Linfox Australia Pty Ltd

Directorate: Environment and Planning

Responsible Officer: Director Environment & Planning

Community Strategic Plan Goal: Delivering Sustainable Infrastructure and Services

Summary

The report seeks approval from Council to provide heavy vehicle access under Higher Mass Limits (HML) on selected Council roads in Smithfield.

Recommendation

That Council:

1. Approve heavy vehicles under Higher Mass Limits, including Quad Mass Limits, to access Council roads identified under recommendation 2, subject to the payment of a fee as agreed between the parties.

2. Note that permissible access to Council’s roads would be restricted to the following road sections:

· From the State Road Cumberland Highway (Betts Road) to Woodpark Road.

· From the State Road Gipps Road to Woodpark Road via Long Street and Cooper Street.

Report

Council is in receipt of a request from Linfox Australia Pty Ltd through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, for the approval of Higher Mass Limit (HML) access for Performance Based Standards (PBS) designed semi-trailers to access selected road sections in the Cumberland Local Government Area.

The routes requested by Linfox are to access two industries in Woodpark Road as per the listed routes below:

1. From State Road Cumberland Highway (Betts Road) to Woodpark Road.

2. From State Road Gipps Road to Woodpark Road via Long Street and Cooper Street.

The map below in Figure 1 shows road sections within the Cumberland Local Government Area that are subject to this request (marked yellow).

Figure 1: Council roads for use under Higher Mass Limits in this application

The access requests are for use by 19m-7 axle (PBS designed Quad axle) semi-trailers at Higher Mass Limits. This vehicle combination has varying overall lengths between 18 and 19m with different prime movers. The cross section of the vehicle is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Prime mover and semi-trailer (19m) 7-axle (Quad axle semi-trailer)

The 7-axle combination of ‘3-axle prime mover and quad axle semi-trailer’ can carry up to 43.0t under General Mass Limits (GML), 43.5t under Concessional Mass Limits and 50.5t under Higher Mass Limit conditions.

Linfox has requested access for these combinations to travel at Higher Mass Limit loading, which is at 50.5t. The 7t extra loading is on the quad axle combination in the trailer.

Council officers have reviewed the request. It is considered that the extra axle loads carried by the provision of Higher Mass Limit access will accelerate the pavement deterioration of the roads, resulting in additional maintenance costs over the years to Council.

The routes requested by Linfox are for two destinations in Woodpark Road with access from State Roads – Cumberland Highway and Gipps Road – into Council roads and are on the approved B-Double network in the Cumberland Local Government Area.

Council has assessed this application and it is proposed that approval be granted, subject to a payment of either a bond or fee as determined by Council. Any fees charged could be used by Council for the maintenance of the road pavement for the damage caused by the additional wheel loading to the road surface beyond the normal degradation.

Community Engagement

The roads requested (namely Long Street, Cooper Street and Woodpark Road, Smithfield) are within industrial area where heavy vehicles, including B-Doubles, already use the roads at general and concessional mass limits. The amenity impact to industrial premises along the requested route for this level of mass limit is therefore considered negligible and, on that basis, community engagement is not proposed in this instance.

Policy Implications

There are no policy implications for Council associated with this report.

Risk Implications

There are no risk implications for Council associated with this report.

Financial Implications

The transport operator will be requested to provide an annual fee as agreed with Council officers, which will be used in the maintenance of these road sections.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of all factors outlined in this report, it is recommended that the application be supported, subject to the applicant being requested to pay a fee, determined by Council officers in agreement with the applicant, to ensure that there is no extra maintenance cost to Council.

Attachments

Nil

Council Meeting

16 August 2023

Item No: C08/23-374

Questions on Notice - Submitted by Councillor Huang

Directorate: General Manager

Question/s:

The following Questions on Notice are submitted on the FOGO Trial Program:

1. What is the Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) Service?

2. What policies and or strategies has Council relied on, to initiate the implementation program for the FOGO Service?

3. Would the implementation the FOGO service impact any development that is currently assessed by the council?

4. In the long term, if the FOGO service is implemented as planned, could it minimise the cost of providing waste services within Cumberland?

5. If the FOGO trial goes ahead, where will Council take the material to be processed?

6. Which company is contracted to received and process FOGO material?

7. How long is the term of the contract?

8. Is it a requirement by the Government for all councils to implement FOGO by a certain time? If so, when?

9. When was this requirement introduced, and by which level of the government?

10. Has the council received any grant funding from another level of government to implement the FOGO service? If yes, how much?

11. Would Council need to return any grant funds, if Council decides to cease the implementation of the FOGO service?

Answer/s:

1. Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) is a kerbside collection service that allows food to be added to the garden waste bin (lime green lid) so it can be recycled into materials such as composts and soil conditioners.

2. The NSW Government’s Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 introduced new requirements for councils to provide food and garden organics collections to all NSW households by 2030.

3. No.

4. Yes, costs related to the recieval and processing of FOGO material is cheaper than sending organic waste to landfill.

5. Council’s material will be taken to Auburn Recycling Centre and then transported to SoilCo processing facilties at Kembla Grange.

6. SoilCo will be accepting Council’s organics and FOGO material once the implementation has commenced.

7. Council has entered into a 5 year contract with SoilCo for the receival and processing of organic waste, concluding in February 2028. As part of the contract, there is an option to proceed with the receival and processing of FOGO material to enable Council to transition to a FOGO service in the future.

8. Yes, a NSW State Government mandate has been introduced for Councils to provide food and garden organics (FOGO) collections to all NSW households by 2030.

9. The annoucement for the mandate was made in 2021 by the NSW State Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

10. Yes, Cumberland City has received $1,834,740 from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

11. Yes, Council would be obliged to return all funds.

Attachments

Nil

Granville Ward
Clr Steve Christou	0419 651 187	Steve.Christou@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Ola Hamed	0405 070 007	Ola.Hamed@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Joseph Rahme	0418 995 471	Joseph.Rahme@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Greystanes Ward
Clr Diane Colman	0400 279 200	Diane.Colman@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Greg Cummings	0417 612 717	Greg.Cummings@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Eddy Sarkis	0425 348 000	Eddy.Sarkis@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Regents Park Ward
Clr Kun Huang	0418 911 774	Kun.Huang@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Sabrin Farooqui	0400 322 999	Sabrin.Farooqui@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Helen Hughes	0400 264 534	Helen.Hughes@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
South Granville Ward
Clr Glenn Elmore	0418 459 527	Glenn.Elmore@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Paul Garrard	0414 504 504	Paul.Garrard@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Mohamad Hussein	0400 281 726	Mohamad.Hussein@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Wentworthville Ward
Clr Lisa Lake (Mayor)	0418 669 681	Lisa.Lake@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Suman Saha (Deputy Mayor)	0419 546 950	Suman.Saha@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Michael Zaiter	0418 432 797	Michael.Zaiter@cumberland.nsw.gov.au