Released today is the Report on the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Development of the Transport Oriented Program
In the chair?s forward it was noted that the TOD program and its planning rules were selected in an opaque process with inadequate consultation, and that its one-size-fits-all approach is not well enough designed to stimulate appropriate housing supply or address affordability issues.
10 recommendations were made regarding the TOD program and the NSW Government is called to take on a holistic, long-term view of options to address the inquiry. In summary these are:
1. Work in collaboration with local councils 2. Work with stakeholders to clarify how TOD operates with existing controls 3. Greater consideration of specific drivers of housing affordability 4. Deliver package of measures impacting constraints on residential construction 5. Deliver a framework for affordable housing under the TOD 6. Consider broad range of issues and solution to the housing crisis 7. Focus infrastructure funding to areas of growth including TOD locations 8. Maintain robust design and building standards through new housing reforms 9. Focus on family-friendly apartments 10. Continue the commitment to 40% urban tree canopy across Greater Sydney by 2036
My favourite personal quote from the report is
“4.92 Similar concerns were raised by Mr Sam Ngai, Mayor, Ku-ring-gai Council, who stressed the importance of ensuring open space is a short-term priority in planning and delivery of housing:
The one thing that cannot be left til next decade is public open space because our kids will no longer have a yard and our community needs public places to meet. In the Roseville precinct alone, we expect 5,000 new dwellings, but the only open space is a small war memorial garden next to the highway.”
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