OGH planning controls soon

The controversial issue of the heights of commercial and residential towers in the Parramatta CBD and their impact on Old Government House and Doman, in Parramatta Park, may soon be resolved.

The issue is of concern to buildings currently under construction or imminent, or developers wanting to build and invest in the CBD.

“When the Old Government House site was listed in 2009 as part of eleven Australian convict sites on the UNESCO World Heritage Register, without thought to its impact on Parramatta, it then came under the Australian Government’s Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act,” a Parramatta City Council statement said.

This law requires all activities likely to have a significant impact on the world heritage values of Old Government House and Domain, including development, be referred to the Federal Government for approval.

“There’s been much uncertainty around this process, with no guidelines to help property developers understand the potential impacts their developments may have on the world heritage values of Old Government House and Domain.”

Council said a technical study, which has been carried out to resolve the issue, identified that development in only a very small area of the Parramatta CBD would likely have significant impact on the world heritage values of Old Government House and Domain.

Council said it has been working with the state and federal governments to provide certainty for property developers in Parramatta CBD and [to] manage the impact of development on the world and national heritage listings of Old Government House and Domain 

To provide further certainty, a conservation agreement between the federal and state governments and council was being drafted, which would remove the need for referrals for developments within a specified area, as long as they complied with specified planning controls.

“Without the technical report and a conservation agreement, the current unsatisfactory situation would continue where there are no guidelines and no certainty around how developers should meet requirements of the EPBC Act,” council said

Council recognises the importance of Parramatta’s heritage and the status of Old Government House and Domain under its world and national heritage listings [and] at the same time, we need to ensure that the City of Parramatta can reach its development potential and there is certainty for developers wanting to build and invest in our city,” council said.

The draft controls would be placed on public exhibition once endorsed by council.“That would be an opportunity for land owners, developers and the community to have their say before the controls are finalised This was expected to occur in the coming months, council said.