Housing & planning · Burwood Council
Burwood authorises amended agreement for $8m developer contribution
The developer sought staged payments under the agreement covering 17 and 21 George Street and 28-34 Victoria Street, without changing the approved 29 additional dwellings.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
Burwood Council authorised its General Manager to enter into an amended planning agreement for an $8 million developer contribution, according to draft minutes of its 22 September 2026 meeting. The approved development at 17 and 21 George Street and 28-34 Victoria Street includes 29 additional dwellings and four to five extra storeys on each building.
The contribution is for open space, community facilities, public infrastructure or other public purposes chosen by Council. The proponent requested a variation to allow staged payments and corresponding staged release of land titles, without changing the approved development or reducing the total contribution.
The draft deed was publicly exhibited from 19 August to 16 September 2026 and received one submission. It raised concerns about density, traffic, infrastructure, local character, transparency and public benefit. The council report said those matters had been addressed through the development assessment process and described the variation as limited to administrative and payment arrangements.
Council’s resolution, 104/26, gives the General Manager authority to make necessary amendments to the amended VPA documentation and sign it under Council’s power of attorney. It also requires the developer to pay under the updated schedule. The recorded vote was five in favour and none against.
Mayor John Faker declared a less than significant non-pecuniary interest because a relative was employed by a company that might have a commercial arrangement to supply energy to the building on completion. He left the chamber and did not take part in the item, with Deputy Mayor Pascale Esber chairing the discussion. The supplied minutes do not establish that the amended agreement has been signed, state the payment dates or identify the projects that may receive the contribution.
What deserves a closer look
The minutes record a request to stage the existing $8 million contribution and land-title releases, followed by a resolution authorising the General Manager to enter into the amended VPA. They do not establish that the amended agreement has been signed.
The supplied minutes do not reproduce the updated payment schedule or state the revised payment dates.
The minutes record the concerns raised in the single submission but do not identify the submitter or specify which future projects Council will fund.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What payment dates and conditions are contained in the updated schedule?
When will the amended deed be signed, and when will each instalment be due?
Which open-space, community-facility, infrastructure or other public purposes will Council select for the contribution?
What happens next
The General Manager is authorised to enter into and sign the amended VPA and associated documentation, making necessary documentation amendments.
The resolution requires the developer to pay the monetary contribution according to the updated schedule in the amended VPA.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The approved development at 17 and 21 George Street and 28-34 Victoria Street added four to five storeys to each building and provided 29 additional dwellings.
66/2025 for 17 and 21 George Street and 28–34 Victoria Street, Burwood under report item 94/25. The approved development added four to five storeys to each building and provided 29 additional dwellings to a mixed use building currently under construction.
Item 68/26, summary
Open original minutes ↗Under the VPA, the developer will contribute $8 million toward open space, community facilities, public infrastructure or other public purposes determined by Council. The proponent requested a variation allowing staged payments and corresponding staged release of land titles without changing the approved development or reducing the total contribution.
Under the VPA, the developer will contribute $8million toward open space, community facilities, public infrastructure or other public purposes determined by Council. In July 2026, the proponent requested a variation to allow staged payments and corresponding staged release of land titles, without changing the approved development or reducing the total contribution.
Item 68/26, summary
Open original minutes ↗The draft Deed of Variation was exhibited from 19 August to 16 September 2026 and received one submission raising concerns about density, traffic, infrastructure, local character, transparency and public benefit.
A draft Deed of Variation was publicly exhibited from 19 August to 16 September 2026 and received one submission raising concerns about density, traffic, infrastructure, local character, transparency and public benefit.
Item 68/26, public exhibition summary
Open original minutes ↗The report said the concerns had been addressed through the development assessment process, characterised the variation as limited to administrative and payment arrangements and said Council considered the VPA remained in the public interest.
As these matters were addressed through the development assessment process and the variation is limited to administrative and payment arrangements, Council considers that the VPA remains in the public interest and recommends delegating authority to the General Manager to finalise and execute it.
Item 68/26, report assessment and recommendation
Open original minutes ↗Resolution 104/26 delegated authority to the General Manager to enter into the amended VPA for 17 George Street, 21 George Street and 28-34 Victoria Street, make necessary documentation amendments and sign under Council's power of attorney. It required the developer to pay according to the updated schedule.
Operational Plan Objective C.1.1 Support and deliver initiatives that encourage social inclusion and community connections. 104/26 RESOLVED 1. That Council grant delegation to the General Manager to enter into the amended Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA), for 17 George Street, 21 George Street, and 28-34 Victoria Street, Burwood, as per Attachment 1 of this report. 2. That Council authorise the General Manager to make any necessary amendments to the amended VPA documentation in Attachment 1 of this report as necessary to bring the documentation into effect and to sign the VPA and any associated documentation under the Council's Power of Attorney. 3. That the Developer pay the monetary contribution to Council in accordance with the updated schedule outlined in the amended VPA. Minutes of Burwood Council Meeting 22 September 2026 This is page 4 of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Burwood Council Meeting held on 22 September 2026 For: Cr Esber, Cr Hull, Cr Bhatta, Cr Wu-Coshott, Cr Yang Against: Nil (Moved Councillor Sukirti Bhatta/Seconded Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott) Mayor Faker returned to the meeting and assumed the role of Chair, the time being 6:12 pm (Item NM4/26) Supporting Nepal and Burwood's Nepali Community Following Devastating Floods File No: 26/45280 Summary The recent
Resolution 104/26, clauses 1–3
Open original minutes ↗The recorded vote on the amended VPA was five in favour and none against.
3. That the Developer pay the monetary contribution to Council in accordance with the updated schedule outlined in the amended VPA. Minutes of Burwood Council Meeting 22 September 2026 This is page 4 of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Burwood Council Meeting held on 22 September 2026 For: Cr Esber, Cr Hull, Cr Bhatta, Cr Wu-Coshott, Cr Yang Against: Nil (Moved Councillor Sukirti Bhatta/Seconded Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott) Mayor Faker returned to the meeting and assumed the role of Chair, the time being 6:12 pm (Item NM4/26) Supporting Nepal and Burwood's Nepali Community Following Devastating Floods File No: 26/45280 Summary The recent
Resolution 104/26 vote
Open original minutes ↗Mayor John Faker declared a less than significant non-pecuniary interest in Item 68/26 because a relative worked for a company that might have an energy-supply arrangement for the building on completion. He left the chair and chamber and did not participate in the discussion or decision.
Attendance Councillor John Faker (Mayor) Councillor Pascale Esber (Deputy Mayor) Councillor Sukirti Bhatta Councillor David Hull Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott Councillor Alex Yang Opening of Meeting by the Mayor The Mayor opened the meeting with a prayer and Acknowledgement of Country. Apologies 100/26 RESOLVED That the apology from Councillor George Mannah be accepted and leave of absence from the meeting be granted. For: Cr Faker, Cr Esber, Cr Hull, Cr Bhatta, Cr Wu-Coshott, Cr Yang Against: Nil (Moved Councillor Pascale Esber/Seconded Councillor Sukirti Bhatta) Declarations of Interest Mayor Faker declared a less than significant non-pecuniary interest in Item 68/26 due to a relative being employed by a company that may have a commercial arrangement for the supply of energy to the building upon completion. Based on a possible perceived conflict of interest, the Mayor removed himself from the Chair and the chamber for that item and did not participate in the discussion or decision. Declarations of Political Donations There were no declarations of political interests by Councillors.
Attendance and declaration of interest, Item 68/26
Open original minutes ↗Deputy Mayor Pascale Esber assumed the chair for Item 68/26 after Mayor Faker left the meeting.
Item 68/26 be dealt with first before any other remaining business 2. Item NM4/26 be dealt with immediately following Item 68/26 (Moved Councillor Sukirti Bhatta/Seconded Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott) Mayor Faker left the meeting, the time being 6:07 pm Deputy Mayor Pascale Esber assumed the role of Chair (Item 68/26) Amended Voluntary Planning Agreement – 17 George Street, 21 George Street, and 28-34 Victoria Street, Burwood.
Procedural motion and commencement of Item 68/26
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from Burwood Council’s draft, unconfirmed minutes for its meeting on 22 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Resolution 104/26 delegated authority to the General Manager to enter into and sign the amended VPA.
- The VPA covers 17 and 21 George Street and 28-34 Victoria Street, Burwood.
- The developer’s $8 million contribution is for open space, community facilities, public infrastructure or other public purposes determined by Council.
- The approved development includes 29 additional dwellings and four to five additional storeys on each building.
- The proponent requested staged payments and corresponding staged release of land titles without changing the approved development or reducing the contribution.
- One exhibition submission raised concerns about density, traffic, infrastructure, local character, transparency and public benefit.
- The supplied minutes were awaiting confirmation at Council’s next meeting on 27 October 2026.
Why it matters
- The agreement preserves an $8 million public contribution while the developer seeks staged payments, but the supplied draft minutes do not specify the payment dates or which public purposes Council will select.