Submission Guide: Lords Rd, Leichhardt
The Proposal
Consultation is currently underway to rezone an underutilised, small-scale industrial precinct in Leichhardt for 210 new homes, and we need you to make a submission in favour. This site is perfect for more housing- within a 5 minute walk you have Leichhardt Marketplace, a light rail stop, Hawthorne Canal park and a primary school that’s currently hugely under-enrolled.
Is this really the best use of such a valuable, well located block of land?
We desperately need more well-located homes, and it’s hard to find a single better site in the Inner West than this one. Unfortunately, some very loud and influential NIMBYs are gearing up to fight this proposal, and we know they have the ear of the local MP and several local councillors. They’ve successfully blocked homes on this site for a decade, and in a housing crisis, it’s beyond time we finally got moving.
These are some of the things that the local NIMBYs have been saying at a meeting about the proposal:
“We don’t care about the school or kids, we just don’t want more people” (Yes, someone actually said this in public)
“This will make the sun rise an hour later in the day in Haberfield!” (The buildings are 7 storeys tall and several hundred metres away from Haberfield, across a tram line and behind a thick row of trees)
“Why can’t we just put it on Parramatta Road?” (The local MP also opposes building on Parramatta Road)
“If this goes ahead, Lambert Park is finished, it’ll be shut down” (The only evidence they could cite for this was that an unnamed football ground in London was once shut down following a development)
You Can Make a Difference
If, like us, you think that it’s time we started ignoring these NIMBYs and getting on with building the homes we need for a more affordable, sustainable and liveable Sydney, you can make a submission in favour of this development here:
https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/under-exhibition/67-75-lords-road-leichhardt
You don’t need to say much, just take 5 minutes to fill out the form and write a short paragraph or two about why you support this proposal. It’s important to put it in your own words, but here are some points you might want to make:
This site is walking distance from shops, transport, services and parks. Building densely here is good planning, and is the most sustainable way to build more homes.
Kegworth Public, just down the road, has seen enrolments decline by 20% in the last 3 years. This is a story mirrored across the inner west- there’s lots of capacity for more kids, while schools in outer suburbs are bursting at the seams.
Opponents of this proposal say they want to preserve industrial land, but their suggested alternative is… industrial land on Parramatta Road.
The current site is ugly and detracts from the streetscape. This proposal provides new open space for the community and represents a significant improvement in amenity for local residents.
This site has been in limbo for a decade. It’s time to give the community certainty and get this across the line.
If you’re struggling with navigating the website, feel free to reach out to us on sydney@yimby.au or the Discord.
