Wentworth Point

City of Parramatta Council are engaging with the Wentworth Point community to inform the development of a Place Plan for the suburb. The Place Plan will establish a vision for Wentworth Point and set objectives and actions to help ensure that Wentworth Point is a liveable, sustainable and thriving community into the future.

Wentworth Point Boundary Amendment Proposal

Council has sought community feedback on a proposal to amend the suburb boundary of Wentworth Point to include the addresses of the Sanctuary development area (14-16 Hill Road) and Jewel Residences (1 Burroway Road) which are currently located in the suburb of Sydney Olympic Park.

This proposal will have no impact on the Sydney Olympic Park open space and parklands and will not change the area under management by the Sydney Olympic Park Authority. The proposal will also have no impact on planning controls.

At its meeting on 12 December 2022 Council resolved to endorse the boundary amendment proposal and submit the amendment request to the NSW Geographic Names Board (GNB) of NSW for formal assignment and Gazettal under the Geographical Names Act 1996.

A number of planning controls apply to Wentworth Point:

• Chapter 4 Homebush Bay area - State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts—Central River City) 2021 and Homebush Bay West Development Control Plan 2004 and Amendment No. 1 (2013)
• Parramatta Local Environmental Plan 2023 and Wentworth Point Development Control Plan 2014
• Appendix 4 Sydney Olympic Park site - State Environmental Planning Policy(Precincts—Central River City) 2021 

The relevant controls applying to Wentworth Point are illustrated below, and more detail can be found at Council’s Planning controls webpages.

Remaining Development Sites

Approved Peninsula Park

The existing Wentworth Point Development Control Plan 2014 requires a significant peninsula park (minimum area of 3.9ha) and a 20m wide foreshore promenade to be delivered in Wentworth Point.

Construction of the approved Peninsula Park is the responsibility of the NSW Government, and Landcom (formerly UrbanGrowth NSW) who will deliver the park on behalf of Transport for NSW (TfNSW), who own the land. A Development Application (DA) for the park lodged by UrbanGrowth NSW was approved in 2016. Landcom subsequently lodged a Development Application modification (DA/875/2017/A) for minor changes to the park layout, which was approved in 2020.

In October 2022 Landcom lodged a further Development Application modification (DA/875/2017/B) to amend the approved park layout to facilitate a future playing field on the site. The Development Application is currently under assessment by Council officers. For further information please search DA/875/2017/B in Council’s Development Application tracker. Landcom intend to open sections of the park from late 2023. Please see Landcom’s most recent newsletter for updates regarding delivery of the park. 
 

Proposed Foreshore Park (currently under assessment)

The existing Wentworth Point DCP 2014 requires an approximately 2 ha Foreshore Park as part of the Sanctuary site (Sekisui House development) at 14 -16 Hill Road. A separate smaller 0.3 ha park (“neighbourhood green”) is also required under the Development Control Plan. The Foreshore Park is an item in the executed Planning Agreement between the developer Sekisui and Council.

Proposed “Block H” Park 

The existing Homebush Way West Development Control Plan requires approx. 1.05 ha of open space and 20m wide foreshore promenade to be delivered at 16 Burroway Road (known as “Block H”). The owner (Billbergia) proposes to amend the existing Development Control Plan controls for the site (including reconfiguring the park). This Proposal will be assessed by the Department of Planning and Environment, further information can be found in the Current Land Use Planning Matters section below.

Proposed “Block D” Park 

The existing Homebush Way West Development Control Plan requires approx. 0.4 ha of open space at 37-39 Hill Road (known as “Block D”). Block D's approved Concept Development Application (DA/999/2017) by developer City Freeholds contains a park and 30m wide building setback from Homebush Bay (which includes a 20m wide pedestrian foreshore promenade). 

Wentworth Point High School

The NSW Government is delivering a high school at 7 Burroway Road (adjacent to the existing primary school). The NSW Government envisions the school will have a final capacity of 1,500 students when fully complete. A State Significant Development Application (SSD) for the first stage of the school was approved in October 2022 by the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE). City of Parramatta Council is not the consent authority for this project. Please contact School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW) for further information.

Hill Road and Bennelong Parkway Intersection Upgrade

Council is installing traffic signals at the intersection of Hill Road and Bennelong Parkway to improve traffic flow and intersection safety.

Construction commenced in March and  is anticipated be completed in June 2023. See the project webpage for detailed plans and further information.

Hill Road Masterplan

The Hill Road Master Plan aims to increase pedestrian and vehicular safety, create a greener and more shaded roadway, manage flooding, and address drainage concerns.

Proposed Haslams Bridge Pedestrian and Cyclist Link

Council  is currently undertaking detailed design of a new pedestrian and cyclist bridge over Haslams Creek at Bennelong Parkway with associated connections either side. This work includes investigations into locations of services, as well as a detailed survey and ecological review.

Once the design has progressed to sufficient detail for community feedback, the project will be placed on public exhibition.

This project is funded by the NSW Government. Constructed is expected to occur in 2024-2025.
 

Transport for NSW Upgrades

•    Hill Road and M4 Motorway access upgrade 
•    Homebush Bay Drive and Australia Avenue intersection upgrade

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2

Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s Parramatta Light Rail is proposed to travel along Hill Road and connect Wentworth Point to the Parramatta CBD. It will also connect to the future Sydney Metro West Station at Sydney Olympic Park. The Light Rail will include construction of a bridge over Parramatta River, linking Wentworth Point to Melrose Park.

The State Significant Infrastructure Application is being assessed by the Department of Planning and Environment.

“Block H” Site ("Bennelong Cove")

The site at 16 Burroway Road and part 5 Footbridge Boulevard, commonly known to as ‘Block H’ is one of the remaining undeveloped parcels in the precinct. The landowner also refers to the site as “Bennelong Cove”.

The draft amendment to the Homebush Bay West Development Control Plan and accompanying draft Planning Agreement were publicly exhibited between 19 October 2020 and 16 November 2020. The proposal sought to enable development of two residential towers, one up to 50 storeys tall and one up to 40 storeys tall, on ‘Block H’ (shown above). 

A report detailing the outcomes of the exhibition, including issues raised in submissions and Council officer recommendations was considered by Council at its meeting on 12th September 2022. Council resolved to request further information from the applicant on a revised scheme.

Update

The Department of Planning and Environment informed the Council in January 2023 that Council no longer had the delegated power as local planning authority to assess and determine proposed amendments to the Homebush Bay West DCP. As a result, the assessment and determination of the Block H proposal and any amendment submitted will now be carried out by the Department, which has provided the following information on the matter to Council:

Why is the State Government responsible for the proposed DCP amendment?

• In March 2022, there was a review of the Planning Secretary’s delegations.
• In relation to the Homebush Bay West DCP amendments, the previous delegation provided to the City of Parramatta Council was revoked.
• The new delegations mean the Department will carry out any amendments to the DCP.
• The new delegations can be viewed on the Department’s website under “Plan-making delegations.”

What are the next steps for the proposed DCP amendment?

• The Department of Planning and Environment will work with the proponent to ensure the DCP amendment responds to feedback previously received from the community, Council and State agencies.
• DPE will work closely with Council on the project and Council will be responsible for finalising the Planning Agreement, which will secure local infrastructure.
• A public exhibition will be required on the proposed changes, ideally with the Planning Agreement. 
• DPE will consider submissions received from the exhibition process and any further changes required prior to finalising the DCP amendment.

For further information contact the Department of Planning and Environment project team at metrocentralnorth@dpie.nsw.gov.au

Landcom (TfNSW) Site

Landcom is developing the land at 9 Burroway Road, which is owned by TfNSW. The site will accommodate the approved Peninsula Park (see above) and other potential future development. The site is currently zoned part RE1 Public Recreation, R4 High Density Residential, and B1 Neighbourhood Centre.

Landcom have submitted a planning proposal to Council that seeks to amend the planning controls to facilitate a revised masterplan for the site (see above). In 2023 the planning proposal will be reported to Council to determine whether it proceeds to “gateway determination”. If Council endorses the proposal for gateway determination the proposal will advance to public exhibition.  The public would then have the opportunity to provide comment on the proposal at the public exhibition stage. 

Please contact Landcom (wentworthpoint@landcom.nsw.gov.au) if you have any inquiries regarding their planning proposal for 9 Burroway Road. 
 

If you have any questions about the progress of these projects, you can contact the City of Parramatta.