Bankstown has become the first council in NSW to win a court case in relation to the proper application of the State’s Affordable Rental Housing SEPP, as it applies to boarding houses.
Mayor of Bankstown, Councillor Khal Asfour, said the proposed projects involved a 12-room boarding house at 78 South Terrace in Punchbowl and a 10-room boarding house at 172 Hillcrest Avenue in Mount Lewis.
“In both cases, the applications were submitted under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009,” Mayor Asfour said.
“These projects were refused by council because the Affordable Rental Housing SEPP does not apply to these developments and therefore are prohibited under council’s LEP.
“The Land and Environment Court subsequently agreed and dismissed the appeals lodged by the proponents.
“Council’s position on these types of applications has consistently been that they have the potential to have significant negative impacts on the character and amenity of our lowdensity residential areas.
“These decisions represent a positive outcome for our local residents living in the vicinity of these locations.
“They are also consistent with council’s own planning policies.”
The decisions of the court follow last month’s refusal of a 144-unit residential flat building in a low density 2(a) residential area in the Bankstown Local Government Area, again lodged under the provisions of the Affordable Rental Housing SEPP.
That development application for 81-95 Boronia Road Greenacre was refused by the Sydney West Joint Regional Planning Panel.