Finalisation
After careful consideration and assessment, the Gilead Stage 2 State Assessed Planning Proposal (SAPP) has been finalised by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (the department).
The proposal will transform a 495 ha site over the next 10–15 years to deliver up to 3,300 new homes, a new school, a new town centre and new public open space within the Greater Macarthur Growth Area.
Following careful consideration of community and agency feedback, approximately 50% of the site (247.8 ha) will now be zoned as protected environmental land. 230 ha of this land has been identified and mapped as protected koala corridors. The rezoning also includes a suite of koala protection measures that align with recommendations from the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer. This includes limiting uses for land within a koala corridor and a requirement that the Planning Secretary is consulted on any potential impacts on the koala population or koala corridors from development before Council can grant consent.
The potential development of 3,300 dwellings has been approved, with 600 to be unlocked now, and a further 2,700 to be unlocked in the future on the condition necessary infrastructure required to service these new homes can be adequately delivered. Sydney Water, Council and the land developer will work together to resolve these matters.
Transport for NSW reviewed and approved the design of upgrades to Appin Road in January 2024. The proponent has committed to upgrading part of Appin Road which includes koala crossings (fauna underpasses) at Noorumba Reserve and Beulah Reserve and koala fencing. These upgrades to Appin Road will be staged and the department will continue discussions with the proponent to secure other critical infrastructure through amendments to the State Planning Agreement being developed for the Gilead Stage 2 rezoning.
For more information on this proposal and to view the finalisation report, visit the NSW Planning Portal.
What happens next
Before new homes can be built on the site, several plans and agreements must be adopted to ensure that more detailed planning controls and infrastructure provisions are available prior to development consent being granted for new homes. These include a Precinct Structure Plan (PSP), a Development Control Plan (DCP) and state and local planning agreements.
The community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft PSP, DCP and state and local planning agreements when they are placed on public exhibition.
Frequently asked questions
Approximately 50% of the Gilead Stage 2 site is now protected under the Environmental Conservation zone, with strict controls in place to implement advice from the Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer.
Like in Appin, there are new koala corridor maps that clearly identify land set aside to protect and revegetate koala habitat. Development consent for any development located within a koala corridor will be subject to the assessment process which includes obtaining the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Secretary’s concurrence.
The rezoning secures a substantial part of the Woodhouse Creek Koala Corridor (also known as Corridor B) and the northern component of the Nepean River Koala Corridor. The rezoning also provides additional land helping to deliver the Menangle Creek Koala Corridor (also known as Corridor A) and the Georges River Koala Corridor.
Corridors A and B will provide important east-west links for koalas and other fauna populations between the Georges River in the east and the Nepean River in the west.
The finalisation report provides a detailed analysis of the koala corridor calculation methodology and outlines how the corridor mapping was refined since exhibition of the proposal.
Significant areas of existing vegetation will be conserved with former grazing land that had been cleared to be restored and revegetated.
We received 140 community submissions during public exhibition. The key issues raised in submissions related to:
- preservation of koala population, habitat, and corridors
- concerns about the biodiversity certification process
- lack of infrastructure in the area.
We consider the matters raised in public submissions addressed. Interested parties are encouraged to review the detailed assessment contained in the finalisation report.
No, Campbelltown City Councils biocertification application has yet to be determined for the Gilead Stage 2 SAPP. As a result, areas of potential high value vegetation on the site will retain its current RU2 Rural Landscape zoning. A decision on the appropriate zone for these sites may be made once the biocertification process has been completed.
Campbelltown City Council did not object to the rezoning of the Gilead Stage 2 proposal.
Council raised some matters that will need to be addressed in the Precinct Structure Plan and Development Control Plan, such as provision of local open space. We will continue to work with Council as work progresses. Our finalisation report thoroughly details each of Council’s concerns and responds to each.
The NSW Government has conducted investigations on infrastructure needs for the Greater Macarthur Growth Area in its 2040 draft infrastructure schedule. A series of infrastructure upgrades will be required for the local area.
Road and Infrastructure upgrades
Transport for NSW recently reviewed and approved the design of upgrades to Appin Road. The proponent has committed to upgrading part of Appin Road which includes koala crossings (fauna underpasses) at Noorumba Reserve and Beulah Reserve and koala fencing through an amendment to the State Planning Agreement developed for the Gilead Stage 1 project.
These upgrades to Appin Road will be staged and the department will continue discussions with the proponent to secure other critical infrastructure through amendments to the State Planning Agreement being developed for the Gilead Stage 2 rezoning.
Wastewater servicing
The potential development of 3,300 dwellings has been approved, with 600 dwelling lots to be unlocked now, and a further 2,700 to be unlocked in the future on the condition necessary infrastructure required to service these new homes can be adequately planned and delivered. In April 2024, Sydney Water advised that the infrastructure can only accommodate up to 600 dwellings for this proposal via the Glenfield wastewater system in the short to medium term (5–10 years). Long term servicing (10+ years) for this development will be provided via a potential future Upper Nepean Water Filtration Plant connection expected in 2031/32.
The department is working closely with Sydney Water, Council and the proponent to resolve these matters, and further consultation is required with Sydney Water on the timing and delivery of wastewater servicing for the proposal through Sydney Water’s network. Should Sydney Water confirm they are subsequently unable to service the development the proponent can consider a private system under the Water Industry Competition Act 2006.
No development can occur on the Gilead Stage 2 site until the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Secretary adopts a Precinct Structure Plan and Development Control Plan. We will work with Council and agencies to ensure these plans are aligned to infrastructure delivery before they are submitted for adoption.