The Tolland Renewal Project seeks to re-subdivide parts of the renewal area and create parkland and housing where it did not previously exist.
Some of the impacted land is owned by Council and classified as Community Land. There are special rules around how Council can use Community Land and those rules prevent Council from being able to sell, dispose of, or otherwise deal with the land.
Normally, a proponent would lodge a reclassification planning proposal to change the Community Land to Operational Land. A reclassification planning proposal incorporates a public exhibition and a public hearing period. Operational Land can be sold or otherwise dealt with by Council.
Where Council owns land needed by Homes NSW to deliver the vision for the Tolland Renewal, Homes NSW have proposed entering into a ‘land swap’ arrangement with Council. This would include Council providing to Homes NSW (free of charge) some of its Community Land, including open space and dedicated road parcels. Council would do this on the basis that Homes NSW will dedicate equivalent open space back to Council as part of the renewal process.
Before Council can enter into a land swap with Homes NSW, it needs to be able to ‘deal’ with the land, which means converting it from Community Land to Operational Land. Homes NSW and the NSW State Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) have proposed a section 3.22 expedited amendment (EP&A Act 1979) to convert the land from Community to Operational Land. This will be undertaken alongside the State Assessed Planning Pathway planning proposal.
Council will continue to liaise with Homes NSW and DPHI on the proposed pathway to reclassify Community Land to Operational Land.