Drums beating for massive housing boom

A housing boom is on the way to the Macarthur region.

The State Government has given the green light to more than 30,000 new housing lots between Campbelltown, Appin, Menangle Park and Wilton.

It will result in a gigantic change to the region when they are all built, but the proposals include strong measures to protect the environment.

Just hours before his one year term ends tonight, Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Paul Lake, was able to welcome a State Government announcement that investigations into potential urban development in Greater Macarthur have cleared the way for massive amounts of new housing, schools, public transport, road upgrades and community infrastructure at Menangle Park, Mount Gilead and Wilton in the Wollondilly Shire.

The Greater Macarthur Land Release Investigation Preliminary Strategy examined an area of more than 7,700 hectares and includes the two proposed urban land releases at Menangle Park and Mount Gilead, both of which are located south of the Campbelltown/Macarthur Regional City Centre.

This could produce more than 18,000 new housing lots and up to 24 hectares of employment lands to help encourage local employment.

The Preliminary Strategy also identified the potential for around 16,000 new dwellings at Wilton.

A long-time advocate of an alternate road route between Camden and Campbelltown, to help ease congestion on Narellan Road, Cr Lake said this new urban growth meant the construction of the Spring Farm Link Road and new access ramps to the Hume Highway.

The Preliminary Strategy also includes actions to upgrade Appin Road, as well as further investigation of the extension of the Sydney Trains electrified rail network to Menangle Park from Macarthur station.

Cr Lake said it was important to ensure these new urban areas linked directly to the Campbelltown/Macarthur Regional City Centre.

“Infrastructure and services to meet future needs are an essential part of any proposed development, and it’s pleasing that the preliminary strategy and action plan includes a commitment from the State Government to necessary upgrades to Appin Road and the much-anticipated Spring Farm link road,” Cr Lake said.

“In addition, the careful consideration of protected areas, local heritage and ecology in the preliminary strategy highlights the importance of Campbelltown City’s natural environment and the need to balance growth with preservation.

“Council has been working closely with the Department of Planning and Environment on the Glenfield to Macarthur Urban Renewal Corridor project, aimed at revitalising the precincts around Campbelltown City’s seven electrified railway stations, and I welcome this latest announcement that will provide the way forward for the creation of vibrant new communities in our city’s south,” Cr Lake added.

[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“I thank the State Government for the acknowledgment that Campbelltown City will play a major role in servicing the growing communities of South West Sydney and the Greater Macarthur region into the future.”[/social_quote]

The Greater Macarthur Land Release Preliminary Strategy and an explanation of proposed amendments to State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Region Growth Centres) 2006 are now on exhibition until  November 4, with copies available for viewing at Council’s Civic Centre and HJ Daley Library, Campbelltown.

To find out more about the Preliminary Strategy and Action Plan, and to have your say, visit the Greater Macarthur website.