Local mayors concerned about infrastructure
North Sydney will have to abolish existing buildings to fulfil its new housing target, Mayor Zoë Baker has said.
The State Government has informed each council of its new housing targets for the next five years in its push to increase the number of homes in NSW through more housing density.
North Sydney’s quota has gone up by more than double, to 5,900, causing concern about the lack of associated infrastructure. “As one of the most densely populated local government areas (LGA) in the country, our infrastructure is already under pressure,” Mayor Baker said.
“Council has consistently voiced its concern that our existing infrastructure is inadequate to support our planned future population. We do not have sufficient open space, schools or hospitals beds, and even water and sewerage services are nearing or at capacity.”
Mayor Baker said the government’s promised $200 million infrastructure ‘incentive’ for councils which reach their housing targets had to be divided among 43 councils. “It pales in comparison to what it would actually cost to deliver the critical infrastructure needed to support the increased population,” she argued.
Mayor Baker said that in order to build the additional homes in an ‘already developed area like North Sydney, new development that increases density would typically involve demolishing existing buildings to build new ones’.
Mosman has a modest target of 500 dwellings, which is 200 over its previous target and reflects its lack of vacant land and large areas of national park. Mayor Carolyn Corrigan said the target was ‘reasonable,’ but the government’s ‘one size fits all’ approach to increasing homes would ‘irrevocably alter the character of Mosman by allowing inappropriate development’.
“Council has requested that the government take into consideration the individual circumstances of the Mosman LGA when developing the low and mid- rise housing reforms that have regard to matters such as heritage and hazards such as increased traffic, biodiversity and canopy loss and infrastructure shortfalls.”
In addition, council was concerned about the impact increased housing yields would have on already stretched infrastructure and services. “Council has asked at every opportunity, but has not been advised if any additional transport infrastructure will be provided to support the increased densities,” Mayor Corrigan said.
Meanwhile, Willoughby Council said it was ‘primed to deliver’ its housing target of 3,400, with rezoning changes in 2023 already creating capacity for 6,500 dwellings. Mayor Tanya Taylor reinforced that government investment in infrastructure like schools would be needed.