On Tuesday 30th September at the extraordinary meeting, the Inner West Council voted 8-7 to endorse its Fairer Futures Plan to increase housing density (8 Labor councillors in favour, and 7 councillors against – 5 Greens, 1 Independent, 1 Liberal). 

With regards to Marrickville, amendments tabled by Councillor Howard were made during the meeting that removed 20% of the uplift. While this is only a small win, it is significant given Marrickville is bearing the brunt of the uplift and dramatic increase in housing.

The reasons cited for removing some areas from uplift included:

• Their distance from Marrickville Train Station
• The presence of existing lower-cost rentals, which would otherwise be under threat.

This is a point we have campaigned on for years. While some of this housing has been spared, much more will still be lost under the plan. For full details of all streets removed, please see Mat Howard's Amendments in the meeting minutes.

You can watch the full meeting on the Inner West Council's webcasts page.

The endorsement of the Plan was a deeply disappointing outcome, with Marrickville treated as the sacrificial lamb of the LGA. Expect to see many changes over the next 10-15 years. Now that Council has adopted the plan, it will proceed to the State Government for the next stage.

Save Dully's submission as a video - it's worth a watch!

Will the Inner West Council’s Big New Plan create a Fairer Future for Everyone?

The proposed new Local Environment Plan will change the Inner West forever, wiping out homes, businesses, trees, sun and sky ... but will it solve Sydney’s housing affordability crisis?

Council is introducing the biggest development plan in Inner West’s history but has refused to hold public meetings to answer questions from the community. So, we’re having one!

You’re invited to hear from experts and local residents about the new Plan, what it will do for housing affordability, community facilities, green open space, family-friendly homes and more at:

PUBLIC COMMUNITY MEETING, 2-4 PM, SUNDAY 27 JULY GUMBRAMORRA HALL, ADDISON RD COMMUNITY CENTRE, MARRICKVILLE

(Hosted by the Better Futures Coalition, concerned community members of Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Ashfield and Leichhardt)

Save Marrickville has joined a number of other community groups from across the Inner West Council LGA to form the Better Futures Coalition.

The new Coalition has called on the Inner West Council to extend and deepen public consultation over its so-called “Fairer Future” Local Environment Plan (LEP) which aims to add more than 31,000 dwellings to a small number of suburbs in Sydney’s Inner West, while leaving others untouched. The plan will have a very significant impact on the built and natural environment of Marrickville, Ashfield, Dulwich Hill and Leichhardt.

Public submissions are due by July 6 and Council has decided to adopt the plan at its August meeting, with the aim of moving it quickly through a State government approval process.

The ’Better Futures Coalition’ community group has requested a month-long extension to the community consultation process, given the genuine challenge of ensuring informed community engagement in such a short time period. 

The extremely low submission and survey response received so far by Council (under 100 submissions and fewer than 200 surveys out of 85,000 households) is proof that the wider community has not been able to meaningfully engage with the plan and its implications. 

Recently the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the State Government is planning to establish priority development zones at seven Metro Stations. These zones will have dramatically increased density to meet the bulk of the state’s housing targets. See link to article Sydney poised for priority development zones to solve housing crisis (smh.com.au)

There is speculation on which seven locations will be selected, and the State government is refusing to comment as the proposal goes to Cabinet. If Marrickville is selected as a priority housing zone, the focus on high rise would lead to the loss of the historic Marrickville town centre, and a complete change to the character of the area.

We have contacted the offices of our local State Member of Parliament, Jo Haylen, and our Federal representative Anthony Albanese. They have previously supported Marrickville residents on issues such as this, and we need their support again.

If you do not want Marrickville to become high rise units, it is important that you let our local MPs know. Jo Haylen’s office can be contacted on 9572 5900 and [email protected]; Anthony Albanese’s office is on 9564 3588 and [email protected] To have best effect, we recommend communication be clear and respectful.

If Marrickville is selected as a priority housing precinct, Save Marrickville residents will move to campaign mode, and this will require resources to get our message out. Please make any donations via this link. Even a small donation will help. If you want more information or you can help out, contact us at [email protected]  

Field Trip is a series of community-led walking tours in Marrickville and Sydenham. We are learning about the area’s industrial, infrastructural and creative spaces, as well as engaging people in a conversation about the future of the neighbourhood.

Listen to the overview of Carrington Road podcast by Front Yard Projects.

The Wolli Creek Valley might have been an 8-lane freeway, but it was saved by Sydney's longest conservation fight.

The valley is inner south-west Sydney's environmental gem – a tranquil haven in a busy city, preserving an irreplaceable remnant of the pre-European landscape.

For 40 years a struggle over Sydney's future has been fought out here, a struggle that isn't yet over. It's been a battle between freeways and public transport; between open space and over-development; between urban sprawl and consolidation; between high-carbon and sustainable futures.

View EcoTransit's amazing documentary [1 hr 15 mins] which includes lots of Wolli footage and a history of the freeway paradigm going back to Mussolini and Le Corbusier.

Have you noticed a lot of cranes on the horizon lately? Real estate and rent skyrocketing?

We are bringing information together on this website for discussion.

• Rezoning around Marrickville
  
  
• Carrington Road precinct
  
  
• Sydenham-Bankstown strategy and Metro railway line
  
  
• Victoria Road precinct
  
  
• WestConnex
  
  
• Other developments in Sydney