The council and state government havelong been at odds over plans to redevelop the sprawling 19-hectare estate in Sydney’s inner south,which is home to more than 2000 vulnerable residents.
Mr Stokes last month told Housing Minister Melinda Pavey and Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore that he would ask Planning Department secretary Jim Betts to assess a planning proposal for the site within 10 weeks if the two parties could not reach an agreement.
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On Wednesday,the NSW Department of Planning,Industry and Environment said it had taken responsibility for plans to redevelop the southern section of the site,known as Waterloo South.
“The renewal of Waterloo Estate is imperative for the delivery of new jobs,homes,parks and public space close to the economic powerhouse of the Sydney[central business district],” the department said in a press release.
Mr Stokes said the council and the corporation had “worked cooperatively in recent weeks to bring their two proposals closer together,but there remains a few points of disagreement”.
“I’m happy that the process so far has produced better proposals than what were originally submitted and that we are getting closer to a resolution,” he said.