The draft Planning Proposal seeks to make the following changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts - Western Parkland City) 2021:

Land Zoning Map

• Amend the land zoning map to rezone land from rural to residential (Zone R2 Low Density Residential and R3 Medium Density Residential) and infrastructure (SP2 Infrastructure - Classified Road).

Maximum Height of Buildings Map

• Amend the maximum height of buildings map to apply a maximum 9m building height across the proposal area (excluding Catherine Park Drive/Rickard Road extension and Springfield Road).

Residential Density Map

• Amend the residential density map to introduce a 20dw/ha density for Zone R2 Low Density Residential, and 25dw/ha for Zone R3 Medium Density Residential.

Land Reservation Aquisition Map

• Amend the land reservation acquisition map to identify land to be acquired for the construction of the future Catherine Park Drive/Rickard Road extension, Springfield Road upgrade, local parks, and drainage infrastructure.

What has happened in the assessment of the draft Planning Proposal to date?

On 21 June 2022, the Proponent lodged a draft Planning Proposal package (version 1) with Council for assessment. Since this time, Council officers have been working with the Proponent and NSW Government agencies to work towards servicing the site (water and sewer).

On 19 November 2024, the Camden Local Planning Panel advised Council officers that the draft Planning Proposal and ILP (version 2) under consideration at that time did not demonstrate sufficient strategic or site-specific merit to be progressed to Gateway Determination stage.

In September 2025, the Proponent lodged a revised draft Planning Proposal and ILP (version 4) with Council for assessment.

A Planning Proposal is an application to amend planning legislation (i.e. planning rules) that apply to 1 or multiple properties. A Planning Proposal may propose changes to zoning, permitted land uses, and development standards such as maximum building height, minimum lot size, etc.

The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI)’s website has more information about the process for amending planning legislation that is available at Making and amending LEPs | Planning.

This draft Springfield Road South Planning Proposal was submitted to Council by the Proponent, Harrington Estates Pty Ltd.

The Proponent seeks to amend the State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts – Western Parkland City) 2021 (Precincts – SEPP) to:

• rezone land from rural to low and medium density residential (with supporting open space, drainage, and road infrastructure);
• use existing minimum lot size clauses within the Precincts SEPP to facilitate up to 1,000 new residential dwellings, with lots averaging approximately 350m²;
• apply a maximum 9m building height; and
• reserve land for acquisition for the future Catherine Park Drive/Rickard Road extension and Springfield Road upgrade.

The draft proposal package placed on initial notification reflects the Proponent’s rezoning proposal at this time; however, it is subject to change as the assessment process progresses. The working draft ILP indicates where the Proponent suggests future homes, open space, roads and infrastructure could be located.

The draft Planning Proposal package has not been supported and endorsed by the Council (the elected Councillors) or the NSW Government at this time.

The Precincts SEPP is the Environmental Planning Instrument (EPI) that sets the planning rules for land within the South West Growth Area (SWGA).

An EPI is a piece of planning legislation that outlines how land can be used and developed. It determines what can be built, where different land uses can go (homes, shops, parks), and development limits such as maximum building height. Developers, builders, landowners, and Council and State government planners use these legislated planning rules to prepare and assess development applications (DAs) for future development.

Should the proposed rezoning of the site be endorsed and finalised, the planning rules under the Camden Local Environmental Plan (LEP) that currently apply to land within the proposal area will no longer apply.

Information about the planning proposal assessment process can be accessed from Camden Council’s website: Amending Planning Controls - Planning Proposals and Development Control Plans » Camden Council.

The ‘initial notification to community’ stage is the second stage of the planning proposal assessment process, as shown on the Figure below.<

The purpose of initial notification is to provide the community with an opportunity to share their views on the proponent’s draft planning proposal at the early stages of the assessment process. Feedback provided by the community at this stage will be used to assist Council officers’ assessment of the proposal and inform discussions with the Proponent and relevant public agencies on planning matters related to the proposal.

Yes. The type and location of zoning, infrastructure, roads and land acquisition can change throughout the assessment process, right up to ‘finalisation stage’ when the NSW Government (Plan Making Authority) finalises the rezoning.

The planning proposal package on initial notification includes an initial draft ILP and proposed zoning and land acquisition maps that have been prepared by the Proponent. The proposal package is still under Council officer assessment and has not been endorsed or supported by the Council (elected Councillors) or the NSW Government at this time.

The Proponent proposes varied residential lot sizes to facilitate the delivery of up to 1,000 new residential dwellings, with minimum lot sizes ranging between 225m² to over 300m² (averaging around 350m²).

Existing minimum lot size clauses within Appendix 5 of the Precincts SEPP will be used, rather than showing minimum lot sizes on a legislative map.

The Proponent seeks to amend Appendix 5 of the Precincts SEPP to apply a maximum 9m building height across the proposal area (excluding Catherine Park Drive/Rickard Road extension and Springfield Road).

If the proposal is supported and rezoning occurs, it could be several years before construction works commence. Currently the draft proposal is at the early stages of the rezoning assessment process.

The future construction of homes and other development would be subject to infrastructure and services (water and sewer) being available to support the future neighbourhood, and relevant development application approvals.

No. The community will be provided with another opportunity to share their feedback on the draft proposal at formal public exhibition stage. The draft planning proposal package placed on public exhibition for community feedback may be different from the draft planning proposal package exhibited during the initial notification stage.

After the initial notification, Council officers will seek advice from the Camden Local Planning Panel (CLPP) on the planning proposal package. The CLPP comprises 3 independent planning experts and 1 community member.

Please note: The role of the CLPP is to provide professional and community-based input on planning matters. This advice will help inform the next stage of the proposal’s assessment.

Following the Panel’s advice, Council officers will prepare a Pre-Gateway Council report. This report will be presented to the elected Council (Councillors) at a future Council meeting. At that meeting, the Council will decide whether the rezoning proposal demonstrates sufficient strategic and site-specific merit to proceed to the Gateway Determination stage (which is led by the NSW Government).