The rising cost of building materials,land and finance will add further challenge to the government’s ambition.
Asked on Friday about economist forecasts that Australia would fail to build its target of 240,000 homes this year because of those factors,Albanese stressed the longer-term goal and said work would scale up over time.
Parramatta Road is a transport corridor earmarked for more housing.Credit:Rhett Wyman
“But we’re already seeing[it in] state and territory governments,in places like NSW,with the statements that Chris Minns has already said,with the initiatives that he has put in place.”
Albanese has previously spoken in favour of increased density along transport corridors,such as the Revolution development next to Marrickville train station and the Taverners Hill proposal in Leichhardt.
The slated Taverners Hill development is part of NSW’s Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy between Annandale and Croydon,but is beingopposed by a group of residents.
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The Parramatta Road strategy was finalised in 2016 and was supposed to be implemented by 2023. But the council did not submit its planning proposal to give effect to that vision until May 2022. Due to quirks of the planning system,it is only now going on public exhibition with the state government’s support.
Long-time Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne,an ally of Albanese whohas previously criticised Minns for “punching down at councils”,said many parts of the Parramatta Road corridor had already been rezoned but there had been lengthy delays in planning department approvals and development.
He said he expected more movement now the NSW government had released its housing policies.
“We all know that the housing supply crisis is serious and that all levels of government have to contribute to solving it. Where traditionally there has been knee-jerk opposition to some developments … the temperature and discussion is changing so quickly,” Byrne said.
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“I think people broadly understand we need more homes,but how that’s done and how you protect local character is important as well. Too often the plans with Parramatta Road have been a debate about density that’s gone nowhere. If you’re going to move more people in,how you improve the public domain and make it a place that people want to be is a big part of it.”
A NSW government spokesperson said its priority was to rebalance housing growth across Sydney close to transport and existing infrastructure.
“Parramatta Road is well-located for new homes with the corridor crossing six different council areas. The government is committed to delivering more density through this corridor and has already taken steps to introduce reforms to increase housing choice and availability,” they said.
The changes would fast-track terraces,townhouses and smaller apartments in the area.
Other suburbs in the Parramatta Road corridor,such as Homebush,Lidcombe,Croydon,Ashfield,Summer Hill and North Strathfield,had been nominated for spot rezoning that would see development of terraces,three to six storey flats,larger apartments and affordable housing.
“The Parramatta Road Urban Amenity Improvement Program[will] improve open space and active transport links between Camperdown and Granville. A total of $198 million has been allocated to the six local councils to support 32 projects that will revitalise these precincts to support housing growth,” the spokesperson said.
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