Ivanhoe Estate: NSW’s first COVID-19 pandemic fast-tracked project

This article provides further detail on the NSW Planning System Acceleration Program highlighted in our article of 16 April 2020.

The concept plans for Ivanhoe Estate (Stage 1) in Macquarie Park, Sydney have been approved. This makes Ivanhoe Estate the first major project to be successfully fast-tracked as part of the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program, which is aimed at keeping the economy moving through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first stage of the $2.2 billion Ivanhoe Estate project is expected to contribute
$303 million into the NSW economy and create more than 570 jobs.

The project will include:

• 3,300 new homes, including 950 for social housing, 128 affordable housing and 273 seniors’ living homes
• 2.8 hectares of open space including new parks, a skatepark and a playground
• A new primary school for 400 children and two childcare centres
• A town plaza, new shops, cafes and restaurants, and
• Supporting infrastructure, including a new road connecting Herring Road with Lyonpark Road, and a new bridge over Shrimptons Creek.

Accelerated planning projects

The NSW Government has provided further information about the assessment of 24 ‘shovel ready’ projects to stimulate the construction industry and create jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

The 24 projects identified in the NSW Government’s first tranche of fast-tracked assessments will be assessed within the next four weeks, and have the potential to:

• Create up to 9,500 new jobs during and after construction
• Contribute $7.54 billion to the NSW economy
• Deliver more than 325,000 square metres of new public open space, parks and environment conservation lands, and
• Allow more than 4,400 new homes to be built, including more than 1,000 social housing and affordable housing homes.

Only DAs or rezoning proposals in the DPIE system are eligible for fast-tracked assessment under the Planning System Acceleration Program.

We can expect further announcements on the assessment of these major projects in the days and weeks to come.

The above content is commentary rather than legal advice and was prepared on the basis of applicable legislation, government programs and initiatives that were in place as of the date of publication. Given the ongoing evolution of both the COVID-19 pandemic and frequent consequential changes to the various laws and programs within all Australian states and territories, readers should seek legal advice on the current situation as applicable to their specific circumstances before taking any action in relation to the above.