Labor councillors have used their numbers to push through a controversial plan to rezone swathes of residential land in Sydney’s inner west to build more than 30,000 high-density apartments over the next 15 years.<\/p>\n
The Our Fairer Future Plan was passed by a single vote by the Inner West Council, with all eight Labour councillors supporting the motion and the remaining seven councillors voting against.<\/p>\n
The packed public gallery erupted as the result was declared, with applause from rows of supporters wearing “Sydney YIMBY” T-shirts and cries of “Shame!” from residents opposed to the proposal.<\/p>\n
Councillors booed and cheered as plan passes<\/p>\n
The Our Fairer Future Plan was passed by one vote on Tuesday night. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)<\/p>\n
In a last-minute amendment, the housing plan was scaled back with reduced density and 5,000 fewer apartments in Marrickville, Dulwich Hill and Ashfield, following a concerted backlash from the community.<\/p>\n
An additional 8,000 homes will be built in partnership with the NSW government along the Parramatta Road corridor to make up for the shortfall.<\/p>\n
There were also changes on affordable housing, with the council now proposing to replicate the City of Sydney’s 3 per cent affordable housing target on residential land with a 1per cent affordable housing levy on non-residential developments.<\/p>\n
Five council-owned car parks will be redeveloped to provide an estimated 350 social housing units.<\/p>\n
In addition, churches and faith-based charities will be allowed to develop their land on the condition that 30 per cent of homes are social housing.<\/p>\n
During an unruly Extraordinary Council meeting at the Ashfield Civic Centre on Tuesday night, Labor councillors were booed and jeered as they spoke in favour of the plan.<\/p>\n
Labor Mayor Darcy Byrne repeatedly threatened to clear the chamber unless members of the public stopped interjecting.<\/p>\n
‘Obscene level of housing inequality’ in the inner west<\/p>\n
Mayor Darcy Byrne said there were “obscene levels” of housing inequality in the inner west. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)<\/p>\n
Ahead of the vote, Councillor Byrne made an impassioned plea for non-Labor councillors to support the scheme, saying urgent action was needed to ease the housing crisis.<\/p>\n
“Now is the time to act, we can’t wait any longer,” he said.<\/p>\n
“If you don’t act now to increase the supply of housing, then the already obscene level of inequity in our local community will get worse.”<\/p>\n
Greens councillor Izabella Antoniou called for the vote to be deferred to allow the community more time to consider the plan.<\/p>\n
“More needs to be done to make sure we are actually delivering for current and future residents in a way that rebuilds trust that we have unfortunately broken,” she said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Inner West Council Greens councillor Izabella Antoniou asked to defer the vote on Tuesday night. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)<\/p>\n
With the plan approved, the council is in line to pocket $520 million in development contributions.<\/p>\n
Labor Deputy Mayor Chloe Smith said the money would go to an infrastructure fund that would deliver new open spaces, facilities and transport links for the growing population.<\/p>\n
“Too many have kicked the can down the road and deferred taking action for too long,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We have to change, we have to build more homes, we have to keep young people and essential workers in the Inner West and let them know they have a future, too.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Protesters vented their frustrations outside the Inner West Council chambers in Ashfield. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)<\/p>\n
Hall Greenland, chair of the Better Future Coalition residents’ action group opposed to the Our Fairer Future Plan, said the outcome was disappointing.<\/p>\n
“It’s very much a divided council, it was only carried by eight votes to seven and those eight votes were all Labor votes,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We draw hope from the fact that every other political group, the Greens and independent, voted against it, so the fight goes on.”<\/p>\n
Chair of pro-development group Sydney YIMBY, Justin Simon, welcomed the vote.<\/p>\n
“I couldn’t be more delighted,” he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Suelin McCauley says the area needs public housing and this plan will not provide any. (ABC News: Ursula Malone)<\/p>\n
“I think it’s a phenomenal plan for the community. It’s going to mean my kids are going to have somewhere they can live when they grow up.”<\/p>\n