Stage 1 of 4
Planning and assessment
The Sydney Metro has been declared critical infrastructure, which means it is considered to be essential to the State for economic, social or environmental reasons.
As a major project, it will be assessed under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
A project that is declared critical infrastructure is still subject to a full and thorough environmental assessment by the Director-General of the Department of Planning with particular emphasis given to ensuring the proposal goes ahead in an environmentally appropriate and sustainable manner. The process for assessment is the same as any other major project.
Stage 1 (Rozelle - Central)
Sydney Metro is now seeking planning approval to build Stage 1 of the Sydney Metro network (from Central to Rozelle). The exhibition period for the Environmental Assessment has now ended.
Stage 2 (Central - Westmead)
Sydney Metro is also conducting an Environmental Assessment into Stage 2 of the network (from Central to Westmead).
Steps in the process
Step 1: Initial application
A project application and preliminary environmental assessment must be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning.
This document identifies the environmental issues that will need to be addressed in the environmental assessment. These include: traffic, transport, parking and access; noise and vibration; spoil management; socio economic factors; non-indigenous heritage; and land contamination.
Both the project application and preliminary environmental assessment for Stage 1 were submitted on 16 February 2009.
The project application and preliminary environmental assessment for Stage 2 were submitted on 7 August 2009.
Step 2: Environmental assessment requirements
In response to the project application and preliminary environmental assessment, the Director-General of the Department of Planning issues requirements which outline the key issues that must be addressed in the environmental assessment.
These requirements have been issued. Follow the links on your right to view the requirements on the Department of Planning website.
Step 3: Preparation of environmental assessment
Following receipt of the Director-General’s requirements, an environmental assessment will be prepared, supported by specialist studies to address the key issues identified in the Director-General’s requirements.
Sydney Metro consults with the community as well as relevant councils, agencies and key parties in the preparation of this document.
Step 4: Public exhibition, consultation and review
The environmental assessment will be exhibited for a minimum of 30 days and public comment will be invited. Advertisements will be placed in appropriate newspapers, and relevant agencies and local councils will be notified, as well as affected and adjacent landowners.
The environmental assessment for Stage 1 is on public exhibition from 9 September to 12 October. The Environmental Assessment can be viewed here or at a number of display locations. Submissions must reach the Department of Planning by close of business 12 October.
Community Information Sessions were held on 19, 24 and 26 September 2009.
The environmental assessment for Stage 2 is expected to go on exhibition in the first half of 2010.
Step 5: Considering submissions and finalising assessment
Submissions received by the Director-General will be provided to Sydney Metro and any relevant public authorities. Sydney Metro may then be required to prepare and submit:
- a submissions report, providing a response to the issues raised in the submissions
- a preferred project report, outlining any proposed changes to the project to minimise its environmental impacts
- a revised statement of commitments.
The Director-General will provide an assessment report to the Minister for Planning in order for the Minister to consider the application for approval to carry out the project.
Step 6: Determination
The Minister for Planning determines whether to approve or refuse the project and determines the conditions that apply to the carrying out of the project. A project may be approved with modifications determined by the Minister.
A flowchart summary of the planning approval and environmental assessment process, including indicative timeframes, is illustrated in the image gallery on the right.
Securing the corridor
To ensure the metro rail corridor is protected, the corridor is included in the State Environmental Planning Policy, (Infrastructure), also known as a SEPP.
The aim of this policy is to identify the rail corridor for the proposed Sydney Metro and to ensure that developments on, or adjacent to, land within that corridor do not adversely affect the viability of the proposed metro or any proposed metro station.
The rail corridor will appear on Section 149 certificates issued by local councils.
Local councils are aware of the provisions of the SEPP, and will automatically refer any relevant development applications to Sydney Metro for concurrence. This activity will not delay the council approvals process. Sydney Metro does not charge a fee for reviewing development applications.
Generally speaking, any development valued in excess of $200,000 or involving excavation to a depth greater than 2m, will be referred by Council to Sydney Metro for concurrence.
Individual property owners considering lodging a development application should speak with their local council in the first instance about council’s building approvals process.
Maps detailing the Infrastructure SEPP can be downloaded from the Department of Planning website.
The SEPP for Stage 1 has been in place since February 2009 to secure the metro rail corridor through Sydney's CBD.
The SEPP for Stage 2 is expected to be in place following the project application and preliminary environmental assessment. This will secure the metro rail corridor from Central to Parramatta and Westmead.
