A digital render of a residential street in Calderwood, which has just seen an expansion of its plans due to an increase in housing. Image: Stockland Shellharbour.
Plans for Calderwood have grown, with expansions set for its already promised parks, sports fields and community centre.
At a recent Shellharbour City Council meeting, councillors voted to endorse a new planning agreement with Stockland (SRCP Calderwood Pty Ltd) for public exhibition, which reveals major expansion to community facilities and infrastructure.
In 2010, the planning minister approved the concept plan for the Calderwood Urban Development Project (CUDP) for about 4800 dwellings, 50 hectares of mixed-use land, open space and land for environmental protection and associated infrastructure.
In 2021, the minister then approved a modification to the project that increased the number of dwellings to 6000, requiring an increase in the provision of infrastructure to support the development.
Modifications include the open space growing from 17.36 ha to 21.84 ha, the sports fields from 15.84 ha to 21.96 ha, the community centre from a 900 sqm building to 1120 sqm, and more detailed specifications to the timing and design of Calderwood Road.
In moving the motion, councillor Kellie Marsh said when council did the original planning agreement with Lendlease, which had since sold its part of the development to Stockland, staff did an exceptional job.
“But when I look at this and the work that’s been undertaken, we’ve just got more value-add for community,” Cr Marsh said.
“I remember when we first started talking about a community centre, and under Lendlease this went off to the Land and Environment Court, and it really was a shoebox that we were going to get for a community centre.
“And that’s probably making it sound larger than what it was.
“Our staff negotiated a 900 metre square building; we’re now up to 1120 metre square building, which will be a great community space.”
She said along with the expansion to sports fields and open space provision, which came off the back of community feedback, was the “much needed upgrade of Calderwood Road”.
“This is a major win for community,” she said.
“When you look at the additional open space lands, including an extra dog park, a pump track, which is quite exciting for our community, which they’ve been calling on for some time, three additional parks as well, this really is a good thing for our community.”
Councillor Mitch Ellis said while there were more properties going in, it was good to see it was also gaining additional open space for multiple types of use.
“I’m stoked with what’s in there. It looks good,” he said.
He also questioned plans for footpaths on the Calderwood Road East upgrade, to which staff responded that a footpath would be on the western and southern side of the road, with Manson’s Bridge only provisioned to have the shared footpaths on one side.
It was unanimously adopted, with the CEO to enter into the agreement on council’s behalf if no changes are required to the scope and timing of works and the monetary contributions payable as a result of the public notification process.
