North Sydney Council Residential Development Policy

The Hon. J. J. DELLA BOSCA: I am now in a position to provide an answer to a question asked earlier by the Hon. Elaine Nile about North Sydney Council. I am advised that the council has received a number of development applications for residential development in the North Sydney central business district [CBD]. On 20 May council requested the Minister to make a local environmental plan that would prohibit residential development in the core part of the CBD - the area bounded by Arthur, Berry, Miller and Blue streets, which affects 124 properties - and to apply a floor space ratio to all development on the fringe of the North Sydney central business district that will affect 116 properties.

The objective of council is to ensure that residential development does not result in the loss of commercial floor space prior to its consideration of the future mix of residential and commercial controls in the North Sydney CBD. Council has stressed that this is an interim measure only which will restrict the loss of prime commercial floor space within North Sydney’s CBD to unrestricted residential uses. It will allow council time to consider a strategic approach to the future of the North Sydney central business district.

I am advised that the Minister has not made any decisions in respect of this matter. By way of additional information, the draft local environmental plan is in accordance with the strategic outcomes expressed in the North Sydney centre study of 1998. This study investigated the role of the CBD in providing a large component of Sydney’s commercial floor space needs.