The Australian Institute of Architects has welcomed the NSW government’s decision to cease further development on Western Sydney’s flood plains.
In a move that seeks to prevent further homes from being developed and endangering lives, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully announced on 29 November that the government had rezoned land in Western Sydney that had been deemed high risk of flood damage.
Institute chapter president Adam Haddow said the decision was not only responsible, but commendable.
“We welcome this sensible decision to suspend future development in known flood areas,” Haddow said. “This is a positive initiative to safeguard our communities from the heartache of flooded homes and preserve our built environment.”
The announcement to rezone the land was based on critical information from the Flood Evacuation Modelling report, which highlighted the frequency of floods in the valley, as well as issues associated with infrastructure when faced with evacuation warnings.
The Institute acknowledged that in rezoning the land, plans to develop new homes in Marsden Park North and Riverstone Town Centre, in what was to be the North-West Growth Area, would be nullified.
Haddow said the decision to halt some housing developments meant that approximately 10,000 homes would no longer be able to be constructed.
“While we recognize that more housing supply is required to support our growing population, building in high-risk zones is never the answer,” Haddow said. “The Institute will continue to call for housing that is affordable, liveable and climate-resilient. These homes would have simply repeated the mistakes of the past.
“With the increasing risks of climate change, this proactive approach to reduce the risk just makes sense.”
The Institute said it will continue to advocate for sensible developments to meet New South Wales’s housing needs.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
