Burwood Local Planning Panel Meeting - 15 Apr 2026 6:00 PM

Key decisions

• 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.
• Wentworth Road residential flat building modification refused
  The panel refused the Section 4.55(2) modification to DA.2018.122 for 106-108 Wentworth Road for a previously approved 5-storey residential flat building, citing BASIX non-compliance and agreeing the proposal did not respond satisfactorily to the site.
  The proposed changes to this apartment development cannot proceed in the form submitted.
• 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.
• Minor heritage and heritage-tree matters permanently delegated to staff
  The panel resolved to continue permanent delegation of its determining functions for certain minor alterations to heritage items and limited tree works on heritage-listed sites, where strict criteria and written support from Council’s heritage adviser are met.
  Routine minor heritage and tree applications may be decided faster without going back to the planning panel.

Important topics

• Exempt development for city activation
  The proposed BLEP 2012 amendment would create exempt development pathways for activation measures without requiring a development application, while still relying on other legal controls and landowner consent where needed.
  Could reduce red tape for low-impact activation projects that support local business and street activity.
• Heritage conservation impacts
  The panel specifically raised concerns about how new exempt development rules for public art and advertising shelters could affect heritage conservation areas.
  Residents in heritage areas may see tighter limits than elsewhere if staff amend the proposal.
• Planning contributions and value capture
  Draft planning agreement policy changes are intended to align with current legislation and expand how community infrastructure can be delivered from high-density development, but the panel asked for feasibility to be considered in setting value capture amounts.
  This may affect what infrastructure developers fund and how viable future projects are.
• High-objection development review
  The Conder Street co-living proposal came to the panel partly because it received 15 unique objections and involved a 10%+ development standard contravention.
  Shows that larger or controversial projects with significant objections are being scrutinised at panel level.

Resident impacts

• Potential new exempt planning rules may speed up delivery of public art and other activation works across parts of Burwood.
• Residents in heritage conservation areas may be affected by future limits on those exempt development provisions.
• A modified amusement centre at 1-17 Elsie Street can proceed under updated conditions.
• Proposed changes to the apartment project at 106-108 Wentworth Road were refused and cannot proceed as lodged.
• A 20-room co-living housing project at 63 Conder Street was approved subject to conditions.
• Minor heritage and heritage-tree applications may be processed more quickly through staff delegation instead of panel hearings.

Places affected

• Burwood (suburb)
  Primary area affected by planning proposal amendments and several development decisions.
• Burwood Town Centre (centre)
  Referenced in city activation and economic growth initiatives.
• Burwood North Precinct (precinct)
  Referenced in broader economic growth and activation context.
• 1-17 Elsie Street, Burwood (site)
  Approved modification to amusement centre at council-owned land.
• 106-108 Wentworth Road, Burwood (site)
  Refused modification to approved residential flat building.
• 63 Conder Street, Burwood (site)
  Approved co-living housing development.
• Croydon (suburb)
  Referenced because similar exempt provisions had previously been tied to the Alternate Croydon Masterplan.

Next steps

• Council staff to review whether proposed exempt development provisions should exclude heritage conservation areas.
  After panel consideration; timing not specified.
• Council staff to review draft value capture amounts in the planning agreement policy to account for project feasibility.
  Before further progression of the policy and planning proposal; timing not specified.
• Council staff to investigate a working group with Strathfield and Canada Bay on town centre coordination.
  Future action recommended by the panel; timing not specified.
• Approved development matters to proceed subject to conditions, including deferred commencement conditions for 63 Conder Street.
  Following issue and satisfaction of relevant consent conditions.
• Applicant for 106-108 Wentworth Road may seek a review of the refusal under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
  Post-determination.

Extracted minutes text

This is of the Minutes of the Burwood Local Planning Panel Meeting of Burwood Council held on 15 April 2026 BURWOOD LOCAL PLANNING PANEL MEETING MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BURWOOD LOCAL PLANNING PANEL held at the CONFERENCE ROOM, 2 CONDER STREET BURWOOD on Wednesday 15 April 2026 commencing at 6:00 PM. Attendance Kevin Hoffman, Chair Awais Piracha Annette Ruhotas Kristy Wellfare Jai Reid, Manager City Development Alastair Sim, Senior Development Planner Julian Sciarrone, Executive Assessment Planner Helen Budd, Executive Strategic Planner Sumathi Navaratnam, Manager City Planning Catherine Hanna, Cadet Planner Zac Moore, Development Advisory Planner Opening of meeting The meeting opened...