The Inner West Council has just put on public exhibition its plans for vastly increased housing development in the inner west.

The plans, dubbed “Fairer Future for the Inner West — Council-led alternate planning approach for new housing” are basically for eight to 17 plus storeys, with a six storey perimeter, around the Marrickville shops, Dulwich Hill shops and Dulwich Hill Station.

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It aims to replace NSW Labor’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) plans, and doubles the amount and height of development envisaged under TOD.

The consultants’ report that prompted these increased heights, densities and developer bonus over and above TOD — on the grounds that TOD did not offer enough incentives to developers — should be made public.

At present this key document is secret — apparently even from councillors.

Thrown into this package are a batch of upzonings of parts of Leichhardt, Lewisham. Petersham and Sydenham.for three- to six-storey developments.

Council claims that all this will lead to 31,000 new dwellings over the next 15 years and be a comprehensive answer to the housing crisis. This is magical thinking, typical of Labor’s pretend solutions to crises and challenges facing our society.

The target of 31,000 new dwelling depends largely on lot amalgamations – minimum frontages are a mandated 21 metres. Minimum lot sizes for development appear to be........

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