Planning Macquarie Park’s future: more housing in next steps for neighbourhoods
Detailed plans for the ‘commercial core’ of Macquarie Park innovation district have been revealed by the NSW Government - including re-zoning, and potentially more housing.
The long-term masterplan for Macquarie Park was ratified late last year, aiming to support the continued growth of our area to 2036. District targets include 20,000 new jobs, 7,650 new homes, 14 hectares of new parks, squares and plazas, and upgrades to infrastructure including roads, public transport and cycleways.
Now the first three detailed plans for seven Park neighbourhoods - each with its own Indigenous language name - have gone on public exhibition, led by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
These neighbourhoods are:
Waterloo Park (Butbut),
Shrimpton’s Creek (Waragal Birrung), and the
Western part of Macquarie Living Station (Gari Nawl)
As part of these plans, developers will be given flexibility to construct either commercial floorspace or 5,040 ‘Build to Rent’ homes in the heart of the Park.
While most of Macquarie Park was originally zoned to support commercial office space, the Government argues that a post-COVID downturn in demand for commercial office space across Sydney coupled with the ongoing housing crisis means it is time for change.
At a press conference in Macquarie Park, Premier of NSW Chris Minns MP pitched new public open space, schools and an indoor recreation centre for the 68-hectare area between Macquarie Park and Macquarie University train stations.
Macquarie Park’s local Government slammed the plans with the Mayor of the City of Ryde, Clr Sarkis Yedelian OAM, stating there was too much focus on housing and the inclusion of ‘Build to Rent’ will “destroy vital employment lands that may never be reclaimed”.
NSW Shadow Minister for Cities and Housing, Scott Farlow MLC and the Member for Ryde, Jordan Lane MP said the plans pitted homes against jobs and “turned their back on Sydney’s Silicon Valley”.
Consultation with the community is on until Sunday 10 December 2023, including drop-in sessions and online webinars. Feedback will be considered to inform the final plan mid-2024.
