town centre · 4 meetings
Burwood town centre
Mentions
- Identified as an area with growing demand for dog exercise facilities.
- Proposed location of the Special Entertainment Precinct.
- Referenced in city activation and economic growth initiatives.
- Identified as a high-density area affected by apartment liveability planning changes.
- Properties and residents at The Strand may be affected by heritage controls and future development requirements. The public exhibition will provide an opportunity to comment.
- The plan sets Council’s four-year direction for improving inclusion and access for people with disability across Burwood.
Decisions
Heritage listing and planning controls for The Strand, Croydon
Council endorsed Planning Proposal PP-2025-2184 to list Nos. 1–50 The Strand, Croydon, as a local heritage item under Schedule 5 of the Burwood Local Environmental Plan 2012. It also endorsed public exhibition of site-specific amendments to the Burwood Development Control Plan 2012 for at least 28 days, followed by a further report on submissions.
Properties and residents at The Strand may be affected by heritage controls and future development requirements. The public exhibition will provide an opportunity to comment.
Inclusive Burwood 2026–2030 adopted
Council adopted Inclusive Burwood 2026–2030, its new Disability Inclusion Action Plan, revoked the 2022–2026 plan and authorised minor typographical corrections. A copy will be submitted to the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
The plan sets Council’s four-year direction for improving inclusion and access for people with disability across Burwood.
Dog off-leash facilities considered
Council considered measures to improve the designated dog off-leash area in Burwood Park and plan for future demand. The meeting also amended the responsible dog ownership motion by removing points 3, 4 and 5. The available extract does not include the complete final wording or outcome of the underlying facility motion.
Dog owners and other Burwood Park users may be affected by future changes to the off-leash area, its maintenance and dog-management arrangements.
Group heritage listing for Nos. 1–50 The Strand
The Panel unanimously supported amending Schedule 5 of the Burwood Local Environmental Plan 2012 to list Nos. 1–50 The Strand, Croydon, as a group heritage item of local significance, and advised Council to proceed with finalisation. Lisa Trueman declared a conflict and left during discussion and deliberation.
The properties will receive formal local heritage protection if Council finalises the planning proposal, affecting future alterations and development.
Burwood Special Entertainment Precinct
The Panel endorsed the post-exhibition planning proposal to establish a Special Entertainment Precinct in Burwood Town Centre, along with an updated management plan and supporting Development Control Plan amendments. It supported the proposal proceeding to Council for consideration and finalisation, subject to statutory requirements.
The precinct is intended to support night-time businesses and cultural activity while managing sound, operating hours, compliance and impacts on nearby residents.
Burwood Park café modification approved
The Panel approved a Section 4.55(2) modification to DA.2014.172 at Lot 1 Burwood Park, Burwood Road, Burwood. The approval permits trading from 7:00 am to midnight, Monday to Sunday, and changes the approved use from café to café/restaurant, including on-premises liquor service subject to separate liquor approvals and conditions.
The decision may increase evening activity, noise and patron movement around Burwood Park. The land is Council-owned and the Panel considered the matter because of a conflict-of-interest provision.
City activation planning proposal noted with heritage caution
The panel acknowledged the officer recommendation on proposed BLEP 2012 exempt development provisions intended to support city activation, including public art on footpaths and advertising on bus and taxi rank shelters, and asked staff to consider excluding heritage conservation areas from these exemptions.
Could make some small activation works easier to deliver across Burwood, but heritage areas may be carved out after further review.
Elsie Street amusement centre modification approved
The panel approved a Section 4.55(2) modification for the approved amusement centre at Suite 3/1, Level 2, 1-17 Elsie Street, including internal layout changes, louvres behind the first-floor balcony, a reduced maximum occupancy, and a larger smoking room, subject to modified conditions.
Affects how the approved venue operates, including patron numbers and building layout at the Burwood town centre site.
Planning agreement policy amendments supported with review request
For the draft Planning Agreement Policy 2025 and related BLEP 2012 amendments, the panel acknowledged the officer recommendation and asked staff to review the value capture amount to reflect feasibility, and suggested investigating a working group with Strathfield and Canada Bay councils on town centre coordination.
May influence how future high-density developments contribute to community infrastructure and how neighbouring centres are planned together.
Conder Street co-living development approved
The panel approved DA.2025.88 for 63 Conder Street, Burwood, for demolition of existing structures and construction of a 3-storey co-living housing development with 20 self-contained rooms, communal spaces, basement amenities, landscaping and stormwater works, subject to conditions including deferred commencement conditions.
Adds a new medium-density co-living housing project in a residential area that drew multiple objections.
Trading name change to "Burwood City Council"
Council resolved to register the business/trading name "Burwood City Council" and progressively implement it across Council operations, while continuing to pursue a formal proclamation by the Governor of New South Wales once required criteria are met, including an LGA-wide survey.
Residents may begin seeing the new trading name on Council communications and services, and the decision signals Council’s push for formal "city status" recognition.
Apartment liveability DCP amendments adopted
Council adopted amendments to Parts 3 and 4 of the Burwood Development Control Plan 2013 to improve apartment liveability, including public notice and publication steps, and requested further reports on potential planning changes related to excluded gross floor area items and visitor-related DCP provisions.
Future apartment developments in Burwood will be assessed under updated liveability and design controls, which can affect amenity, sustainability and building design outcomes.
Topics
Burwood Park dog facilities
The minutes describe the existing off-leash area near the Gardeners Shed as limited in size and amenity, below the standard warranted by its use and poorly suited to future demand. Burwood Park is one of five locations in the LGA with designated off-leash opportunities.
The issue affects dog owners, park users, nearby residents and the future use and maintenance of Burwood Park.
The Strand heritage planning process
The Burwood Local Planning Panel unanimously supported heritage listing for Nos. 1–50 The Strand, Croydon. Draft site-specific DCP amendments are to be publicly exhibited for a minimum of 28 days.
Owners, residents and prospective developers in The Strand area should monitor the exhibition and later Council report.
Disability inclusion planning
Inclusive Burwood 2026–2030 was developed with Council’s Disability Inclusion Advisory Panel and replaces the previous 2022–2026 plan.
The plan may guide Council services, facilities and engagement affecting people with disability and their carers.
Heritage protection at The Strand
An independent heritage assessment found Nos. 1–50 The Strand meet the threshold for local heritage significance. The Panel supported group listing under Schedule 5 of the Burwood LEP 2012.
Heritage listing can constrain changes to buildings and guide future development decisions.
Burwood night-time economy planning
The proposed Special Entertainment Precinct would create a planning framework for extended trading and entertainment uses, supported by sound-management controls, operating-hour controls and compliance measures.
Businesses may gain more certainty for evening operations, while nearby residents may have new protections and potential amenity impacts to monitor.
City status pathway
The meeting considered two pathways to establishing city status: a formal proclamation by the Governor of New South Wales and a trading-name change. Council proceeded with the trading-name pathway while continuing the formal process.
This is a civic identity and governance change that may influence how Burwood is promoted and recognised.