At a Glance

• The NSW Government has announced state led rezoning near transport hubs

• Campbelltown has already invested heavily in CBD planning and strategy

• Key studies and transport modelling remain unresolved and costly

• A state led approach could align housing growth with infrastructure and jobs

Recognising Good Policy When It Emerges

My role is not to defend any State Government, regardless of political affiliation. It is to advocate for our community. Those who follow my Minutes will know that I consistently raise concerns about the intended and unintended consequences of policy decisions on our residents. That will not change.

However, I also believe leadership requires balance. When good ideas emerge, it is our responsibility to acknowledge them and offer constructive support.

The recent announcement by the Minns Government to undertake state led rezoning in Parramatta, aligned with new light rail infrastructure, is one such idea. With the support of Parramatta Council, the Government has moved to rezone the Church Street North precinct to unlock housing supply. Reports suggest further priority development zones near transport may follow.

I have always believed that when housing growth is aligned with transport and supported by coordinated action across agencies, outcomes improve for communities and for the state as a whole. In that respect, this approach deserves careful consideration.

Campbelltown’s Preparation for Growth

Campbelltown has not waited on the sidelines. We have been preparing for growth for several years.

The Reimagining Campbelltown City Centre Masterplan, adopted in 2020, and the subsequent City Centre Design Framework, including a structure plan, were developed to provide clarity and confidence. We have also participated actively in the Collaboration Area Place Strategy process led by the Greater Sydney Commission and other state agencies.

Earlier this year, Council allocated 2.7 million dollars to progress the Campbelltown CBD review and update our Local Environmental Plan. This was not a symbolic commitment. It was a practical investment in the future of our city.

Our objective has been clear. We want high quality density that promotes accessibility, sustainability, and liveability. We support well considered mixed use proposals that create safe and attractive urban environments. We see the City Centre as the highest priority location for future growth, particularly given its transport connections and employment potential.

The Practical Constraints We Face

Yet planning ambition must be matched by technical and institutional capacity.

In April this year, we submitted a Scoping Proposal for the LEP review to the Department of Planning and Environment. Formal feedback identified the need for transport modelling, infrastructure studies, flood analysis, and traffic impact assessment.

Transport modelling is central. Without it, density cannot be responsibly calibrated. We proposed that Transport for NSW undertake this modelling. Discussions have been ongoing, but we are yet to receive clarity on scope, budget, or timeframe. Through those discussions, it has become clear that the baseline modelling for Campbelltown is outdated.

To deliver a new modelling baseline in support of government policy will cost Council in the order of five hundred thousand dollars. I am reminded that councils can commit funds and prepare strategies, but without timely coordination from state agencies, progress can stall.

This is not a matter of blame. It is a matter of alignment.

A Case for State Led Rezoning in Campbelltown

In light of these challenges, I believe a state led rezoning for the Campbelltown CBD, or ideally the broader area identified in our Masterplan, warrants serious consideration.

Media commentary has suggested that the Government may override councils to achieve higher densities. In Campbelltown, that is not the issue. We are not resisting growth. We are eager to work with the Government to achieve appropriate densification that benefits both our city and the wider state.

If our objectives are aligned, there is no reason why we should not collaborate under a clear and coordinated framework. A state led process could ensure that transport, infrastructure, and planning strategies are delivered in concert rather than sequence. It could expedite the studies required and provide certainty to the market and the community.

Importantly, Council is not seeking to withdraw its commitment. We will maintain our funding allocation. If the State assumes responsibility for particular studies or costs, we would redirect our resources to the next phase of urban development within the local government area. That is not about cost shifting. It is about sequencing and maximising public value.

Growth with Employment and Quality

Housing growth cannot be viewed in isolation. The long term success of the Campbelltown City Centre depends on local employment, cultural vitality, and quality public domain. I am confident that a genuine partnership with the State can integrate these elements.

Campbelltown is well positioned to contribute to housing supply and affordability. But growth must be supported by infrastructure and opportunity. It must enhance, not diminish, the standard of living our residents expect.

I intend to write to the Hon. Chris Minns to formally offer our support for a state led rezoning process. My aspiration is that we can secure Council endorsement of a preliminary Local Environmental Plan for public exhibition before the end of this Council term.

That would represent not only speed, but shared purpose.

“If our goals align, there is no apparent reason why we should not work together to achieve them with priority and speed.”

Reflection

In reflecting on this moment, I am reminded that effective governance is rarely about jurisdictional lines. It is about stewardship of place. When councils and state agencies align their efforts, communities benefit from clarity, certainty, and coordinated investment.

Campbelltown stands ready to play its part. We seek neither conflict nor control. We seek partnership, alignment, and the opportunity to shape growth in a way that honours both local character and state ambition.

Read the original Mayoral Minute here: 19.  Local Environmental Plan Review: State-Led Option