Vineyard-Riverstone Scheduled Lands

Landcom recognise that development is unlikely to occur in the Scheduled Lands unless landowners work co-operatively together. With this in mind, we believe a key part of our work should be aimed at getting landholders to work closely with each other. We also think that any development solution for the Scheduled Lands should be developed in response to the views of landowners.

Starting in 2005, Landcom began working with local landowners group the Vineyard Riverstone Marsden park Development Association (VRMPD) to find a way to make development happen, and in late 2006 we started contacting all landowners by mail. Since that time we have provided information through a regular landholder newsletter, this website and an information phone line. We have also continued to seek landowner feedback, most recently through a series of landholder meetings held in February and March 2009.

As a landowner in the Scheduled Lands with land identified as residential in the draft rezoning we would like to talk with you. Landcom would like to hear your views about the future development of your land.

With this in mind, we are undertaking a survey of all landowners to better understand their views about our development model. If you have not already completed a survey, could you please click on the link below and fill out the survey form.

Landowner Survey

We also surveyed landowners at the recent 2009 February and March meetings about the presentation we showed them. A copy of this presentation is included as a link below. We would appreciate it if you could view the presentation and fill out a survey to let us know what you think.

To download a copy of the 2009 Landowner Meeting Survey click here

Please return all surveys by mail to:

Landcom Head Office
Level 2, 330 Church Street
Parramatta NSW 2150

Copies of other presentation material and landowner newsletters are available by clicking on the links below. A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about the project and Landcom responses are also included below.

To access our Landholder newsletters click here

Landcom presentation material

Landcom information boards Displayed at the DoP shopfront during the draft exhibition period click here [PDF 6.3MB]

Landcom 2009 landowner meeting presentation click here [PDF 6.3MB]

Frequently Asked Questions

Landcom and the Scheduled Lands
1. Who is Landcom?	A State-owned Corporation that develops land in NSW. We develop land on behalf of Government. Part of our charter is to assist Government with strategic and complex projects.
2. What’s Landcom’s role in Riverstone?	To work with landowners to help them find a way to unlock the development potential of their land to enable orderly development to take place.
3. Why is Landcom involved?	The Scheduled Lands are located in a strategic position in the North West Growth Sector. Landcom is identified in the Metropolitan Strategy as a body with the skills and expertise to help facilitate development.
4. Who owns the land?	It is mainly held by private landowners. There are around 3,600 lots held by over 500 landowner groups. Blacktown City Council owns about 600 lots and the State Government owns about 300 lots.
5. What work has Landcom done to date?	We have entered into an agreement to work with the landowner representative group Vineyard, Riverstone, Marsden Park Developments Inc (VRMPD) to identify means of facilitating the development of the area. We have considered various potential development models with VRMPD and are currently formulating a preferred model.
Developing Your Land
6. Why can’t I just build on my block as it is?	• Generally the existing zoning of the land only permits a new dwelling on very large land-holdings. Details of the zoning of specific areas of land should be obtained from Blacktown City Council (www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au). The Department of Planning is currently progressing rezoning of the land to allow urban development of the area. It will not allow the rezoning to proceed unless appropriate arrangements are made for the provision of new supporting infrastructure services.
7. When can I develop my land?	When the Growth Centres Commission rezoning process has been completed and development can be programmed with the knowledge that the infrastructure necessary to support it will be made available. Details should be obtained from the Growth Centres Commission (www.gcc.nsw.gov.au).
8. What infrastructure is needed?	The existing rural roads and limited water services are not adequate to serve a new neighbourhood. These will need to be replaced with new water, sewer, road, power and other services. The large new development area will need to be supported by new schools, public transport and community services.
9. Why do I have to pay for the infrastructure?	It is normal practice for developers to pay for the cost of the roads, water, sewer and other services needed for their developments.
10. How can I pay for these services?	We recognize that small landowners may not have the financial capacity to pay for the cost of these major works. Landcom has been investigating ways how, through the concept development model, the works can be done by a separate body and the landowners can reimburse it either with cash or with a part of their land.
The Concept Development Model
11. What is the Landcom development model? How does it work?	At this stage the model is conceptual only and is subject to Landcom Board and Government approval. The model allows existing lots to be reconfigured into more saleable, developed lots. It is based on the principle of giving existing landowners the option of paying for their share of the services needed to develop their land into more saleable lots by exchanging part of their land for these services. Development will be based on a master-plan that we will produce that will aim to keep the existing street grid pattern where possible.
12. Has a model of this type been used somewhere else?	To the best of our knowledge a model of this type has not been used to develop land. There are other models which share some of the characteristics of our model that have been used in Western Australia. We’ve looked at these models and drawn on their strengths.
13. Why this model?	We believe it could work effectively at Riverstone. It has been tailored to meet the unique characteristics of the Vineyard-Riverstone Scheduled Lands. It enables landowners to retain the title to their land, is financially flexible and has the potential to deliver a good urban outcome.
14. What support do you have for it?	The model has the support of the Riverstone sub-committee of Vineyard, Riverstone, Marsden Park Developments Inc. We have received positive feedback on it in discussions with Blacktown City Council, the Growth Centres Commission and Sydney Water In response to a questionnaire sent to all landowners at March 2008 we had received responses from about 50% of all landowners and about 85% of those responding had indicated that they were willing to consider working with Landcom towards the development of the area.
15. What if I just want to sell my land?	It is intended that participation in the model will not prevent you from selling your land at any stage in the process.
Rezoning
16. What zoning is suitable for Landcom’s Model?	Landcom’s Model applies to a low density residential zoning
What Is The Cost?
17. I am not a developer - how much will it cost me to take part?	You will have the option of paying for your share of the costs of developing your land with cash or with a portion of the land itself. The cost of administering the development model would form part of these development costs.
18. Will I have to pay a regional infrastructure levy?	The whole of the North West Growth Centre, within which the Scheduled Lands are located, is subject to the regional infrastructure levy administered by the Growth Centres Commission. The levy will help contribute towards the cost of State Government services such as schools, transport and emergency services to be provided for the area - Government will pay for the rest of the costs.
19. Will I have to pay Section 94 fees?	A Section 94 payment will be levied by Blacktown City Council in accordance with the draft Section 94 Plan it has developed. This is normal practice for new development areas and will cover your share of the cost of local facilities and services such as trunk drainage and parks.